Central Government Finalizes Land Acquisition for Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor in Chandauli District

The Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) issued a Notification on February 21, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of specific land parcels for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor project. This instrument, identified as S.O. 994(E), was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, on February 27, 2025, and came into force upon its publication. The notification follows an earlier declaration of intent by the Central Government, made through notification S.O.4380 (E) dated October 4, 2024, which was published on October 9, 2024. That initial notification, issued under sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (an Act governing the construction and maintenance of railways in India), outlined the government's intention to acquire land in the Chandauli District of Uttar Pradesh for the execution of a Special Railway Project, specifically the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.

The process involved the publication of the substance of the initial notification in daily newspapers, namely Danik Jagran and Hindustan, on October 23, 2024, as mandated by sub-section (4) of section 20A of the Railways Act. Following this public notice, no objections were received from the public within the stipulated period. Subsequently, in compliance with sub-section (1) of section 20E of the said Act, the competent authority (an officer appointed by the Central Government to perform functions under the Act) submitted its report to the Central Government. Acting upon this report and exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) and in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 20E of the Railways Act, the Central Government proceeded with the final declaration. The acquired land, primarily private agricultural land across various villages including Chhittampur, Jafarpur, and Khajurgaw within the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar Tahsil, totals several hectares and involves numerous landowners.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to finalize the statutory process for land acquisition necessary for the timely execution of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, a critical infrastructure project aimed at enhancing freight movement across the country. The earlier legal position established by the Railways Act, 1989, provides a framework for such acquisitions, beginning with a declaration of intent, followed by public notification, an opportunity for objections, and a review by a competent authority. This notification addresses the completion of these procedural steps, ensuring that the land required for the project is legally secured. The legislation provided: “...hereby declares that on publication of this notification, the lands specified in the Schedule annexed hereto shall vest absolutely upon it free from all encumbrances.” This declaration signifies the transfer of ownership of the specified lands to the Central Government, free from any claims or liabilities, thereby removing potential impediments to the project's progress. The vesting of land free from encumbrances is a crucial step that enables the Ministry of Railways to proceed with construction activities without legal disputes over land ownership. This final notification underscores the government's commitment to developing dedicated freight corridors to improve logistics and economic efficiency.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, Ministry of Railways, Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, Infrastructure Project, Freight Movement, Government Notification
Geo Tags: India, Uttar Pradesh
District: Chandauli