Central Government Appoints Competent Authorities for Land Acquisition for Special Railway Projects in West Bengal

The Ministry of Railways, through the Eastern Railway division, issued two statutory notifications on September 15, 2025, to facilitate land acquisition for major infrastructure upgrades in West Bengal. These notifications, identified as S.O. 4229(E) and S.O. 4230(E), were published in the Gazette of India on September 19, 2025, marking their immediate commencement. The Central Government exercised its statutory powers to designate specific administrative officers as competent authorities to oversee the legal and procedural requirements of land procurement for designated Special Railway Projects. These projects are aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Dedicated Freight Corridor and improving safety across the rail network by eliminating numerous level crossings.

The first notification, S.O. 4229(E), focused on the Asansol Division, specifically the elimination of 42 level crossings on the Eastern Railway Dedicated Freight Corridor route spanning from Khana to Pradhankanta. To manage this, the government authorized the Additional District Magistrates (Land Acquisition) of Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Bardhaman to perform the functions of the competent authority (the official legally empowered to handle land valuation, acquisition, and dispute resolution). Simultaneously, S.O. 4230(E) addressed the Howrah Division, targeting the elimination of 40 level crossings through the construction of Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges on the Dankuni-Khana Howrah-Bardhaman Chord line. For this project, the Additional District Magistrates (Land Acquisition) of Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman were appointed to lead the acquisition process within their respective jurisdictions.

The legislation provided: “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (7A) of section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989, as amended vide the Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008 the Central Government hereby authorizes the officer mentioned in column (2) of the Table below as competent authority to perform the functions as such authority under the said Act with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette with respect to land acquisition for the Special Railway Project” for the public purpose.

The legislative intent behind these appointments is rooted in the need to streamline the expansion of India’s railway infrastructure. By categorizing these works as Special Railway Projects, the government utilizes the expedited acquisition framework established by the Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008. This framework was designed to address the statutory gaps and delays often encountered under general land acquisition laws, ensuring that critical national projects like the Dedicated Freight Corridors are not stalled by administrative bottlenecks. The policy rationale emphasizes the public purpose of these projects, which seek to segregate freight and passenger traffic, thereby increasing the speed and reliability of goods transport while reducing the risk of accidents at level crossings.

Under the earlier legal position, land acquisition for railways often followed more cumbersome routes, but the current statutory framework allows for the direct appointment of local revenue officers to act as the primary interface between the Ministry of Railways and affected landowners. These competent authorities are now tasked with the enforcement of statutory timelines for the assessment of land value and the distribution of compensation. The notifications effectively establish the administrative arrangements in the districts of Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, and Hooghly, ensuring that the legal transition of land for the chord line and the freight corridor route proceeds under clear executive authorization.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, Land Acquisition, West Bengal, Dedicated Freight Corridor, Special Railway Project, Ministry of Railways, Competent Authority, Level Crossing Elimination

Geo Tags: India, West Bengal
District: Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Hooghly