Central Government Declares Land Acquisition for Road Over Bridge Project in Srikakulam District

The Central Government, through the Ministry of Railways, officially declared the acquisition of specific land parcels in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh for the construction of a Road Over Bridge. This declaration, issued under the authority of the Railways Act, 1989, follows the proposed closure of a manned level crossing situated on the Waltair Division’s main line. The notification, designated as S.O. 2495(E) and published in the Gazette of India on June 5, 2025, marks the final stage in the statutory process for land procurement for this designated Special Railway Project.

The project involves the construction of a Road Over Bridge instead of closing the manned Level Crossing No. ML-400, located at kilometer 714/3-5 between the Naupada and Kotabommali stations. The acquisition process was initiated earlier this year when the Central Government declared its intention to acquire the land via a preliminary notification on February 17, 2025. Following the statutory requirements of the Railways Act, the substance of that initial notification was published in local newspapers, including the Telugu daily Sakshi and the English daily The New Indian Express, on March 1, 2025, to invite public feedback.

The competent authority reported that no objections were received from any person regarding the proposed acquisition. Consequently, the Central Government exercised its powers to finalize the acquisition of the lands detailed in the statutory schedule. The affected areas are situated within Govindapuram village in the Santhabommali Mandal of Srikakulam. The acquisition encompasses various types of land, classified as both dry and wet, belonging to several recorded tenants and institutions, including a local temple.

The legislation provided: “on publication of the notification in the official Gazette, the land specified in the schedule annexed here to shall vest absolutely in the Central Government free from all encumbrances.”

This legal provision ensures that the Central Government gains full ownership of the property, unburdened by any prior legal claims or liabilities (encumbrances). The primary policy rationale behind this measure is to facilitate the seamless execution, maintenance, and management of railway infrastructure. By replacing manned level crossings with road over bridges, the Ministry aims to enhance operational safety and efficiency on high-traffic corridors like the Waltair Division.

The statutory framework under which this notification was issued addresses the necessity of infrastructure modernization. Previously, the land was subject to the preliminary declaration of intent under Section 20A of the Act. The transition to Section 20E signifies the completion of the deliberative phase and the commencement of the enforcement phase. The total area identified for the project within the specified village amounts to approximately 2.88 acres. With the publication of this notice, the land is now legally transferred to the government, allowing the East Coast Railway’s Gati Shakti and Construction departments to proceed with the physical construction of the bridge.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, Land Acquisition, Road Over Bridge, Srikakulam, East Coast Railway, Special Railway Project, Gazette Notification, Andhra Pradesh

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh
District: Srikakulam