Central Government Designates Road Over Bridge Project as Special Railway Project

A recent Notification, S.O. 4155(E), issued by the Ministry of Railways (South Central Railway) on September 10, 2024, and published in the Official Gazette on September 23, 2024, formally designated the construction of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) as a Special Railway Project. This designation, made by the Central Government, facilitates the acquisition of land required for the project. The specific project involves the construction of a Road Over Bridge in lieu of Level Crossing No. 404, situated at Km. 589/12-14 between Kadiyam and Dwarapudi. The notification specifies that the land acquisition will occur in the State of Andhra Pradesh, within the District of East Godavari, and is intended for providing national infrastructure for a public purpose. The provisions of this notification came into effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government hereby notifies Construction of Road Over Bridge in lieu of Level Crossing No. 404 at Km. 589/12-14 between Kadiyam - Dwarapudi as a Special Railway Project for acquisition of land in the State of Andhra Pradesh in the District of East Godavari for providing National Infrastructure for a public purpose...”

The primary objective behind this notification is to streamline the process of land acquisition for critical railway infrastructure development. By exercising powers conferred under clause (37A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989, the Central Government aims to expedite projects deemed essential for national infrastructure. The designation of a project as a "Special Railway Project" under this clause is a mechanism to ensure that land required for such public works can be acquired efficiently, addressing potential delays that might arise under general land acquisition procedures. This legislative action underscores the policy rationale of enhancing connectivity and safety by replacing existing level crossings with Road Over Bridges, thereby reducing accidents and improving traffic flow. The notification effectively creates the legal basis for the Central Government to proceed with land acquisition for this specific ROB project, ensuring that the necessary land parcels in East Godavari district are made available for the construction of this vital piece of national infrastructure.

Keywords: Railways Act, Road Over Bridge, Special Railway Project, Land Acquisition, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Ministry of Railways, Infrastructure, Notification

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh District: East Godavari