Central Government Finalizes Land Acquisition for Dahod-Indore Railway Project

The Ministry of Railways, through its Western Railway (Construction Organization), issued a Notification, S.O. 914(E), on February 20, 2025, formalizing the acquisition of land for the new Broad Gauge (BG) line project connecting Dahod to Indore. This legislative instrument, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3 Sub-section (ii), declared the final acquisition of specified land parcels in Gyanpura village, Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh. The process commenced with an earlier notification, S.O. 261(E), dated January 15, 2025, which had declared the Central Government's intention to acquire land for the execution, maintenance, management, and operation of this Special Railway Project, traversing through Jhabua, Sardarpur, Dhar, and Pithampur. The substance of this initial declaration was subsequently published in daily newspapers, including Dainik Bhaskar, Raj Express, and Free Press General, on January 21, 2025, as required by sub-section (4) of section 20A of the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008. Objections received from residents of Gyanpura village were duly considered and resolved by the competent authority, which then submitted its report to the Central Government in pursuance of sub-section 20E of the said Act. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on February 20, 2025.

The legislative intent behind this notification was to facilitate the timely and unhindered development of critical railway infrastructure, specifically the new BG line project from Dahod to Indore. This project aims to enhance connectivity and promote economic activity across the region. The acquisition process was conducted under the framework of the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008 (Act 11 of 2008), which provides a structured legal mechanism for the Central Government to acquire land for railway projects. This particular notification addressed the procedural requirements following the initial declaration of intent, resolving objections, and incorporating the competent authority's report. By doing so, it moved the acquisition from an intended action to a legally binding transfer of ownership, thereby ensuring that the land required for the railway line is secured without legal impediments. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government hereby declares that 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.” This provision ensures that the acquired land becomes the property of the Central Government, free from any claims or liabilities (encumbrances), enabling the smooth execution of the railway project. The schedule annexed to the notification detailed the specific land parcels, including Khasara numbers 45/1/1 and 297/1 in Gyanpura village, Dhar Taluka, Dhar District, totaling 0.1084 hectares, along with the names of the affected landholders. This final declaration of acquisition and vesting of land is crucial for the progression of the railway project, ensuring that the necessary land is available for construction activities.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railway (Amendment) Act 2008, Dahod-Indore railway, Ministry of Railways, infrastructure project, Madhya Pradesh, Dhar district, land vesting, government notification Geo Tags: India, Madhya Pradesh District: Dhar