Central Government Designates Arbitrator for Special Railway Project Land Acquisition in Mirzapur

The Ministry of Railways, North Central Railway (Engineering Department), issued a significant notification, S.O. 1845(E), on March 10, 2025, which was subsequently published in the Gazette of India on April 24, 2025. This notification formally appoints an arbitrator to oversee land acquisition proceedings for a crucial railway infrastructure project. The instrument, a statutory order, came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette. It specifically designates the District Magistrate of Mirzapur to perform the functions of an arbitrator in land acquisition matters within the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. This appointment is made under the authority granted by sub-section (6) of section 20F of the Railway Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), as amended by the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008 (11 of 2008). The primary purpose of this designation is to facilitate the construction of a 2-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) in place of Level Crossing No. 19, situated between the Chunar-Chopan Railway stations of the Prayagraj Division. The project specifically impacts villages such as Darwan, Hinauta, and Dadara, located in Tahsil Marihan, within the state of Uttar Pradesh, as part of a designated Special Railway Project.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to ensure a streamlined and legally compliant process for land acquisition, which is essential for the timely execution of critical railway infrastructure developments. The Railway Act, 1989, particularly after its amendment in 2008, provides a framework for the Central Government to appoint arbitrators for land acquisition in connection with railway projects, thereby addressing potential disputes and ensuring fair compensation. This specific notification operationalizes that framework for a particular project, filling the statutory gap that would otherwise exist without a designated authority to handle arbitration functions. The appointment of a District Magistrate, a senior administrative and judicial officer, as the arbitrator underscores the government's commitment to establishing a robust and credible mechanism for resolving land acquisition issues. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government hereby appoints the arbitrator mentioned in column (2) of the table below to perform the functions of arbitrator in Land Acquisition as such authority under the said Act with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, relating to district mentioned in column (3) of the said table for Construction 2 Lane ROB in lieu of L-Xing No.19 between Chunar-Chopan Railway station of Prayagraj Division, Village-Darwan, Hinauta and Dadara,Tahsil-Marihan in the state of Uttar Pradesh of such Special Railway Project.” This measure aims to expedite the acquisition process for the construction of the Road Over Bridge, which is vital for enhancing railway safety by eliminating a level crossing and improving traffic flow. The notification ensures that all land acquisition proceedings related to this specific project in Mirzapur will be conducted under the purview of the appointed District Magistrate, adhering to the provisions of the Railway Act.

Keywords: Railway Act, Land Acquisition, Arbitrator, Ministry of Railways, Uttar Pradesh, Mirzapur, Road Over Bridge, Special Railway Project, Notification
Geo Tags: India, Uttar Pradesh
District: Mirzapur