Central Government Acquires Land for Kota-Mathura Railway Project in Gangapur City

The Ministry of Railways (West Central Railway) issued a notification, S.O. 1552(E), on April 1, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of land for a Special Railway Project. This notification, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-Section (ii), finalized the process initiated under the provisions of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989) and the Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008 (No. 11 of 2008). The acquisition pertains to land required for the execution, maintenance, management, and operation of the Kota - Mathura section, specifically for the construction of a Road Over Bridge on LC No. 173 Project in Gangapur City District, Rajasthan. The Central Government had previously declared its intention to acquire this land through a notification dated December 10, 2024. Subsequently, the substance of this initial notification was published in local newspapers, namely THE INDIAN EXPRESS (English) and RAJSTHAN PATRIKA (Hindi), on December 22, 2024, as mandated by sub-section (4) of section 20A of the said Act. No objections were received by the Competent Authority following these publications. Upon receipt of the report from the Competent Authority, the Central Government proceeded with the final declaration of acquisition. The notification specifies that the land detailed in the annexed schedule shall be acquired for the stated purpose and, crucially, that upon its publication in the Official Gazette, the land shall vest absolutely in the Central Government free from all encumbrances (meaning full ownership without any claims or liabilities).

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate essential infrastructure development by ensuring the timely and lawful acquisition of land for critical railway projects. The process adheres strictly to the statutory framework established by the Railways Act, 1989, which provides a mechanism for the Central Government to acquire land for railway purposes. The earlier legal position required an initial declaration of intent, followed by public notice and an opportunity for objections, before the final acquisition could be declared. This notification addresses the procedural requirements by confirming that all such steps were duly completed, including the absence of objections and the submission of a report by the Competent Authority. The acquisition is a direct implementation of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and sub-section (2) of section 20E of the Railways Act, 1989, which govern the final declaration of acquisition and the vesting of land. The legislation provided: “...in pursuance of sub-section (2) of Section 20E of the said Act, the Central Government hereby declares that on publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, the land specified in the schedule annexed hereto shall vest absolutely in the Central Government free from all encumbrances.” This ensures that the land is transferred to the Central Government with clear title, enabling the unhindered progress of the railway project. The schedule annexed to the notification provides a detailed description of the private agricultural land parcels, including survey numbers, area in square meters, and the names of landowners or interested persons, across various villages in the Talavada Taluka of Gangapur City District. It also lists government-owned land parcels designated as 'Gai.mu. Rasta' (government road/path) that are part of the acquisition. This systematic approach ensures transparency and legal certainty in the land acquisition process for public utility projects.

Keywords: Railways Act, Land Acquisition, Ministry of Railways, West Central Railway, Road Over Bridge, Kota-Mathura section, Gangapur City, Rajasthan, Notification, Infrastructure Development

Geo Tags: India, Rajasthan
District: Gangapur City