Central Government Designates Competent Authority for Railway Land Acquisition in Andhra Pradesh

The Ministry of Railways (South Central Railway) issued Notification S.O. 1546(E) on March 24, 2025, which was subsequently published in the Gazette of India as an extraordinary issue on April 1, 2025. This notification was issued to formally authorize a specific officer to act as the Competent Authority for land acquisition concerning several Special Railway Projects. The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by clause (7A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989, designated the Revenue Divisional Officer, Eluru, to perform these functions. The authorization specifically pertains to six projects involving the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) in lieu of existing level crossings within Andhra Pradesh, primarily in the Eluru district. These projects include ROBs at Km. 501/22-24 between Denduluru - Bhimadolu stations, Km. 486/26-28 between Vatlur - Eluru stations, Km. 514/8-10 between Pulla - Chebrolu stations, Km. 507/32-34 between Bhimadolu - Pulla stations, Km. 518/06-08 between Pulla-Chebrolu stations, and Km. 524/18-20 between Chebrolu-Badampudi stations. The notification came into force with effect from its date of publication in the Official Gazette.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to streamline and expedite the land acquisition process essential for the timely execution of critical railway infrastructure development. By formally designating a Competent Authority (an officer legally empowered to carry out specific functions, such as land acquisition), the Central Government aims to overcome potential administrative hurdles and ensure that the necessary land for these Special Railway Projects is acquired efficiently. The earlier statutory framework under the Railways Act, 1989, provides the overarching legal basis for such acquisitions, but specific projects require the appointment of a designated authority to operationalize these provisions. This notification addresses the practical requirement of assigning responsibility for land acquisition, thereby facilitating the construction of Road Over Bridges. These bridges are crucial for enhancing safety by eliminating level crossings, which are often points of congestion and accidents, and for improving the overall efficiency and speed of both railway operations and road traffic. The legislation provided: “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (7A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989 the Central Government hereby authorizes the officer mentioned in the column (5) of the Table below to perform the functions of the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition in respect of the Special Railway Project as mentioned in column (2) of the Table for execution, maintenance, management and operation in the state mentioned in column (3) of the said table with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.” This authorization empowers the Revenue Divisional Officer, Eluru, to undertake all necessary steps for land acquisition, ensuring that these vital railway projects can proceed without undue delay, ultimately contributing to improved connectivity and safety for the public.

Keywords: Railways Act, 1989, land acquisition, Road Over Bridge, ROB, level crossing, Ministry of Railways, Competent Authority, Andhra Pradesh, Eluru Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh District: Eluru