Central Government Declares Land Acquisition for Pachora-Jamner Railway Gauge Conversion Project in Maharashtra

The Ministry of Railways, through the Central Railway division, issued a formal notification on May 24, 2025, declaring the final acquisition of land for a significant infrastructure initiative in the State of Maharashtra. This notification, published in the Gazette of India as S.O. 2319(E), pertains to the Special Railway Project involving the conversion of the Pachora-Jamner narrow gauge line to broad gauge (a standard track width of 1.676 meters) and its subsequent extension to Malkapur. The declaration followed a preliminary notification issued on September 19, 2022, under Section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989, which initially signaled the government’s intention to acquire specific land parcels in the Jalgaon district for the execution, maintenance, and management of the rail line.

The legislative process for this acquisition involved several statutory stages to ensure procedural fairness. Following the initial declaration of intent in 2022, the substance of the notification was published in local Marathi newspapers in July 2024 to inform the public and affected landowners. This allowed for a period where objections could be raised and heard by the Competent Authority. After hearing these objections and passing the necessary orders, the Competent Authority submitted a detailed report to the Central Government. In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 20E(1) of the Railways Act, 1989, as amended by the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008, the Central Government officially declared that the land specified in the schedule would be acquired. The legislation provided: “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 behind this measure is rooted in the necessity of modernizing the regional railway network to enhance connectivity and operational efficiency. By converting the existing narrow gauge tracks to broad gauge, the Ministry of Railways aims to integrate this section with the national rail grid, facilitating faster transit and higher load capacities for both passengers and freight. The statutory framework provided by the 2008 amendment specifically empowers the Central Government to designate certain works as Special Railway Projects, which allows for an expedited land acquisition process to address statutory gaps and delays that previously hindered large-scale infrastructure development.

The specific land parcels identified for acquisition are located across four villages within the Pachora taluka (an administrative sub-district) of Jalgaon, namely Varkhedi Budruk, Bildi, Vadgaon Jogo, and Goradkhede Khurd. The total area designated for acquisition across these villages amounts to approximately 3.64 hectares. The notification provides a comprehensive schedule listing private landowners whose holdings, identified by survey and gatt numbers in the local land records (7/12 extracts), are now subject to this vesting. With the publication of this notification, the land is legally transferred to the Union government, cleared of any prior legal claims, mortgages, or third-party rights, which are technically referred to as encumbrances. This final declaration marks the transition from the administrative planning phase to the enforcement of the acquisition, enabling the commencement of physical construction and the eventual operation of the upgraded railway line.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Maharashtra, Jalgaon, Special Railway Project, Pachora-Jamner, Broad Gauge Conversion, Ministry of Railways

Geo Tags: India, Maharashtra
District: Jalgaon