Central Government Notifies Intent to Acquire Land for Kashi Railway Station in Varanasi

The Ministry of Railways (Northern Railway (Construction Organization)) issued Notification S.O. 5724(E) on December 9, 2025, which was subsequently published in the Official Gazette on December 10, 2025. This notification signifies the Central Government's formal declaration of its intention to acquire specific land parcels for a public purpose, specifically for the construction of the proposed Kashi Railway Station. The land identified for acquisition is located in District-Varanasi, within the State of Uttar Pradesh, and its brief description is detailed in a Schedule annexed to the notification. The issuance of this notification is a crucial step in facilitating the development of essential railway infrastructure.

The notification, exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (Act 24 of 1989), outlines the procedure for land acquisition. It specifies that any person with an interest in the identified land has a period of thirty days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette to raise objections to the proposed acquisition. These objections, concerning the acquisition and use of the land for the stated purpose, must be submitted in writing to the competent authority, which is designated as the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The process ensures that objectors are granted an opportunity to be heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner, before the competent authority makes a final decision to either allow or disallow the objections. The legislation provided: “Any person interested in the said land may, within thirty days from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, raise objection to the acquisition and use of such land for the aforesaid purpose under sub-section (1) of section 20D of the said Act.” Furthermore, any order issued by the competent authority under sub-section (2) of section 20D of the Railways Act, 1989, is deemed final. Interested parties are also informed that land plans and other relevant details are available for inspection at the office of the competent authority. The Schedule appended to the notification precisely identifies the land, including district, tehsil, village, plot number, and the affected area in hectares, totaling 0.0885 hectares in Bhadau village, Sadar Tehsil, Varanasi.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to enable the Central Government to proceed with the development of critical public infrastructure, such as railway stations, by providing a clear legal framework for land acquisition. The Railways Act, 1989, establishes the statutory framework for such acquisitions, ensuring that land can be procured for railway projects while also safeguarding the rights of affected landowners through a defined objection and hearing process. This notification addresses the practical necessity of acquiring specific land parcels for the Kashi Railway Station project, a requirement for any large-scale construction. It does not introduce new laws but rather activates existing provisions within the Railways Act, 1989, which govern the acquisition of land for railway purposes. The process ensures transparency and due process, allowing individuals whose land is earmarked for acquisition to voice their concerns before a final decision is made. The enforcement mechanism is built into the Act itself, with the Special Land Acquisition Officer acting as the designated authority to manage the objection process and make binding decisions.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Kashi Railway Station, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Ministry of Railways, Public purpose, Infrastructure development, Land notification

Geo Tags: Country: India, State: Uttar Pradesh
District: Varanasi