Central Government Declares Land Acquisition for Kota Mathura Railway Project in Tonk District

The Ministry of Railways (West Central Railway) issued a Notification, S.O. 890(E), on February 19, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of land for a Special Railway Project in Rajasthan. This notification follows an earlier declaration of intent, S.O. 5424(E), dated December 16, 2024, which was published in the Gazette of India. The project involves the construction of a Road Over Bridge on LC No. 141X in the Kota Mathura section within Tonk District. The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20E of the Railways Act, 1989, and the Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008, confirmed the acquisition of specified land parcels. The notification detailed that the substance of the initial declaration was also published in local newspapers, including "THE TIMES OF INDIA" (English) and "KHABRON KI DUNIYA" (Hindi), on December 20, 2024, as required by sub-section (4) of section 20A of the said Act. No objections were received by the Competent Authority following these publications. Consequently, the Competent Authority submitted its report to the Central Government, leading to this final declaration. 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.” This means that upon its publication, the ownership of the land transfers entirely to the Central Government, clear of any claims or liabilities.

The primary objective of this notification is to facilitate the timely execution, maintenance, management, and operation of the critical railway infrastructure project. The legislative intent behind such declarations is to ensure that essential public works, particularly those related to national infrastructure like railways, can proceed without undue delay once all statutory procedures for land acquisition have been meticulously followed. The Railways Act, 1989, along with its 2008 amendment, establishes a comprehensive statutory framework for the acquisition of land necessary for railway purposes. This framework includes provisions for initial notification of intent, public consultation periods for objections, and a final declaration of acquisition and vesting. The current notification addresses the procedural requirement for the final vesting of the land, confirming that the preceding steps, including the absence of objections, have been completed. The declaration ensures that the acquired land, which includes both government and private parcels in villages such as Hameerpura, will be available for the construction of the Road Over Bridge, thereby enhancing the railway network and public safety by eliminating a level crossing. The detailed schedule annexed to the notification precisely identifies the survey numbers, type and nature of land, area in square meters, and the names of landowners or interested persons, ensuring transparency and statutory precision in the acquisition process.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, Railway Project, Tonk District, Road Over Bridge, West Central Railway, Railways Act, Government Notification, Infrastructure Development, Rajasthan

Geo Tags: India, Rajasthan
District: Tonk