Central Government Declares Land Acquisition in Jamnagar for Rajkot-Kanalus Railway Doubling Project

The Ministry of Railways, through the Western Railway’s Construction Organization, issued a formal notification on January 1, 2025, declaring the acquisition of specific land parcels in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat. This statutory declaration, published in the Gazette of India as S.O. 30(E), was made under the powers conferred by the Railways Act, 1989. The notification confirmed the absolute vesting of land in the Central Government for the execution of a Special Railway Project, specifically the doubling of the Rajkot-Kanalus Broad Gauge single line. This administrative action followed a preliminary notification issued on July 18, 2024, which had signaled the government's intention to acquire the land for the maintenance, management, and operation of the expanded railway infrastructure.

The procedural history of this acquisition involved a public notice phase where the substance of the initial intention was published in prominent newspapers, including The Indian Express and Sandesh, on July 26, 2024. This was conducted in accordance with the mandatory requirements of the Railways Act to ensure transparency and provide affected parties an opportunity to raise concerns. Following the publication, the competent authority reported that no objections were received from the public or the landholders regarding the proposed acquisition. Consequently, a report was submitted to the Central Government, leading to the final declaration that the identified lands were required for public purposes related to railway development.

The legislative intent behind this notification is rooted in the necessity to enhance rail connectivity and capacity in the state of Gujarat. By invoking the specialized provisions of the Railways Act, 1989, the government sought to streamline the procurement of land for infrastructure deemed essential for national transport. The doubling of the Rajkot-Kanalus line is categorized as a Special Railway Project, a designation that allows for expedited acquisition processes to meet statutory timelines for infrastructure growth. 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 legal consequence of this declaration is the immediate transfer of ownership of the scheduled properties to the Central Government, extinguishing any prior private rights or encumbrances (legal claims or liabilities attached to the property). The specific land identified for this project is located in Alia village within the Jamnagar (Rural) Taluka. The acquisition encompasses a total area of 3935.00 square meters, divided between two primary survey numbers. This includes 1941.00 square meters from survey number 442/1 and 1994.00 square meters from survey number 445. By completing this statutory process, the Ministry of Railways has secured the necessary site for the Rajkot-Kanalus doubling project, ensuring that the construction and subsequent operation of the broad-gauge line can proceed without legal impediment.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Western Railway, Rajkot-Kanalus Doubling, Jamnagar, Special Railway Project, Ministry of Railways, Gujarat Infrastructure, Gazette Notification

Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: Jamnagar