Question 1

Why did construction on the Urga-Pathalgaon section slow down after land acquisition?

Accepted Answer

Even after acquiring the land needed, builders still had to secure gram sabha consent and verify community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act before diverting forest-classified stretches, which delayed progress in sensitive areas.

Question 2

What is the Forest Rights Act and why does gram sabha consent matter here?

Accepted Answer

It is a 2006 law protecting tribal and traditional forest-dweller rights over forest land. Before that land can be diverted for any project, the local village assembly must formally consent after rights are verified.

Question 3

Which villages mark the start and end of this specific expressway section?

Accepted Answer

This 87.5-kilometre stretch of NH-130A runs from Bhaisma village to Taruama village, passing through Korba, Raigarh, and Jashpur districts as part of the larger Raipur-Dhanbad Economic Corridor.

Question 4

How far along is construction on this stretch as of mid-2025?

Accepted Answer

The wider corridor, including this section, had reached close to 95 percent physical progress by June 2025, making it one of the more advanced pieces of the full 707-kilometre expressway.

Question 5

Is this section built under HAM, and what does that mean for a buyer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, where the contractor funds part of construction and recovers costs over a 15-year operating period. This does not directly affect land buying, but confirms the project has firm, long-term backing.

Question 6

Which districts does the Urga-Pathalgaon stretch actually pass through?

Accepted Answer

It runs through Korba, Raigarh, and Jashpur districts in Chhattisgarh, connecting the state's coal and industrial belt to the forested hills near the Jharkhand border.

Question 7

Do Section 170-B and the Forest Rights Act cover the same thing?

Accepted Answer

No. Section 170-B governs the sale of land once owned by a Scheduled Tribe member to a non-tribal buyer. The Forest Rights Act separately governs whether forest land can be diverted at all, based on community consent.

Question 8

How do I check whether a plot near this expressway carries forest or tribal status?

Accepted Answer

Pull the Khasra and B1 Khatauni on the Bhuiyan portal for ownership history, then separately confirm forest classification and any recognised community rights with the local Forest Department and gram sabha records.

Verified lands & plots for sale near the Urga-Pathalgaon Expressway.