Central Government Notifies Barharwa-Bhagalpur 3rd 4th Line as Special Railway Project for Land Acquisition

The Ministry of Railways, acting through the Eastern Railway’s Construction Department, issued a formal notification designating the Barharwa-Bhagalpur 3rd and 4th Line as a Special Railway Project. This statutory instrument, identified as S.O. 5304(E), was issued on November 19, 2025, and subsequently published in the Gazette of India on November 20, 2025. The notification was promulgated by the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by the Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008. The primary legal consequence of this notification is the formal authorization of land acquisition proceedings across specific jurisdictions in the states of Jharkhand and Bihar to facilitate the expansion of railway infrastructure. The measure specifically affects land holdings within the Sahibganj District of Jharkhand and the Bhagalpur District of Bihar, identifying the project as essential for providing national infrastructure for a public purpose.

The legislation provided: “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (37A) of Section 2 of the Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008 the Central Government hereby notifies Barharwa-Bhagalpur 3rd 4th Line as Special Railway Project for acquisition of land in Sahibganj District of Jharkhand and Bhagalpur District of Bihar, for providing national infrastructure for a public purpose with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.”

The legislative intent behind this notification is rooted in the policy rationale of accelerating the development of high-priority national infrastructure. Under the statutory framework of the Railways Act, the classification of a venture as a Special Railway Project (a project notified by the Union government for the creation of national infrastructure) triggers specific provisions that streamline the procurement of land. This designation is intended to address historical statutory gaps and procedural limitations that often delay large-scale connectivity projects. By invoking Clause (37A) of Section 2 of the 2008 Amendment Act, the government has established the legal necessity for the Barharwa-Bhagalpur expansion, which aims to enhance the capacity of the Eastern Railway network. The project involves the construction of additional third and fourth lines, a move designed to alleviate rail traffic congestion and improve the efficiency of both passenger and freight movement between Jharkhand and Bihar. This notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette, thereby providing the enforcement mechanism required for the Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) and relevant land authorities to initiate statutory timelines for acquisition and compensation.

Keywords: Ministry of Railways, Special Railway Project, Land Acquisition, Railways Amendment Act 2008, Barharwa-Bhagalpur Line, Eastern Railway, National Infrastructure, Jharkhand, Bihar

Geo Tags: India, Jharkhand, Bihar District: Sahibganj, Bhagalpur