Central Government Declares Land Acquisition for Garhi Harsaru Railway Y-Connection Project in Gurugram

The Ministry of Railways, acting through the Northern Railway’s Construction Organization, issued a formal notification on September 19, 2025, to finalize the acquisition of land for a critical infrastructure project in Haryana. Published in the Gazette of India on September 22, 2025, the notification, designated as S.O. 4250(E), marks the culmination of the statutory process required to secure territory for the construction of a Y Connection at Garhi Harsaru. This project involves the development of a new 2.50 kilometer railway line situated in village Wazirpur, under the Harsaru Sub Tehsil of Gurugram District. The primary objective of this legislative instrument is to facilitate the execution, maintenance, and management of a Special Railway Project intended to optimize rail traffic by eliminating the requirement for train reversals at the Garhi Harsaru junction. 

The declaration followed a preliminary notification issued on April 28, 2025, under Section 20A(1) of the Railways Act, 1989, which initially signaled the Central Government’s intention to acquire the land. To ensure transparency and provide an opportunity for public response, the substance of that notification was published in two prominent newspapers, Dainik Jagran and The Times of India, on May 20, 2025. Following these publications, the competent authority received two formal objections from stakeholders. These objections were subsequently reviewed and disallowed in accordance with the prescribed legal framework. Upon the submission of a final report by the competent authority, the Central Government exercised its powers under Section 20E(1) of the Railways Act to issue this definitive declaration of acquisition. 

The legislation provided: “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.” 

The policy rationale for this acquisition is rooted in the need to address operational limitations within the existing railway network. Under the prior statutory framework, the absence of a Y Connection necessitated time-consuming train reversals (the process of changing the direction of a locomotive or train), which impacted the efficiency of both passenger and freight movements. By invoking the Railways Act, 1989, the government has addressed these statutory and logistical gaps, ensuring that the necessary land is legally transitioned from private and local authority ownership to the Union. The notification specifies that the acquisition encompasses a total area of 2.7443 hectares, which translates to approximately 54 Kanals and 5 Marlas. 

The land identified in the schedule includes various categories, such as private agricultural land (Chahi), barren land, and public pathways (Gair Mumkin rasta). The affected parties include numerous private landowners in village Wazirpur, as well as land under the jurisdiction of the Haryana Government and the Municipal Corporation of Manesar. The notification provides a detailed breakdown of survey numbers, field numbers, and the specific shares of interested persons, ensuring statutory precision in the transfer of titles. With the publication of this notification, the enforcement mechanism is immediate, as the land now vests with the Central Government, allowing the Northern Railway to proceed with the construction of the new line without further legal impediments regarding land rights or prior encumbrances (legal claims or liabilities attached to the property). 

Geo Tags: India, Haryana
District: Gurugram