Central Government Initiates Land Acquisition for Special Railway Project in Hooghly District

The Ministry of Railways, through the Eastern Railway, issued a formal notification declaring the Central Government’s intention to acquire specific tracts of land in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. This statutory instrument, published as S.O. 5122(E) in the Gazette of India on November 12, 2025, was enacted under the authority of the Railways Act, 1989. The acquisition is necessitated by a Special Railway Project within the Howrah Division, which focuses on the elimination of 40 level crossings on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) route. The project involves the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) along the DKAE-KAN HBC Chord line to enhance operational efficiency and public safety. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette, marking the commencement of the formal acquisition process for the identified plots.

The legislative intent behind this move is rooted in the requirement for infrastructure maintenance and the execution of high-priority railway works. By invoking Section 20A of the Act, the government has identified land across multiple jurisdictions, including Haripal and Singur, covering various plots in Mouzas (land record units) such as Dank, Khagr Agachi, Madhu Sudan Pur, and Kinkar Bati. The statutory framework provides a structured mechanism for public participation and grievance redressal.

The legislation provided: “In exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 20A of the the Railways Act, 1989, (as amended vide the Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008) (herein after referred to as the said Act), the Central Government after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the land, the brief description of which has given in the Schedule annexed hereto, is required for the purpose execution, maintenance and operation of the Special Railway Project namely, Howrah Division - 40 Nos Elimination of Level Crossing of DFC route by ROB/RUBs on Indian Railway - DKAE-KAN HBC Chord line in the Hooghly District in the State of West Bengal, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land;”

The policy rationale addresses the limitations of existing level crossings, which often impede the speed of freight corridors and pose safety risks to local commuters. To mitigate these issues, the Act mandates a transparent objection process. Any person interested in the land may, within thirty days from the date of publication, submit an objection to the acquisition and use of such land. For this specific project, the Additional District Magistrate (Land Acquisition) of Hooghly has been designated as the Competent Authority. The law requires that every objector be granted an opportunity for a hearing, either in person or through a legal practitioner. Following an inquiry, the Competent Authority will issue an order that remains final under Section 20D(2) of the Act. This streamlined process is designed to balance the necessity of rapid infrastructure development with the legal rights of landholders, ensuring that the Dedicated Freight Corridor can operate without the interruptions caused by traditional level crossings. Detailed land plans remain available for public inspection at the office of the Competent Authority to ensure transparency in the demarcation of the affected areas.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, Land Acquisition, Hooghly District, Dedicated Freight Corridor, Special Railway Project, Ministry of Railways, West Bengal, Road Over Bridges, Level Crossing Elimination

Geo Tags: India, West Bengal
District: Hooghly