Central Government Notifies Intention to Acquire Land for Jalgaon-Bhadli Special Railway Project

The Ministry of Railways, acting through the Central Railway administration, issued a formal notification on July 17, 2025, declaring the government’s intention to acquire specific land parcels in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. This statutory instrument, published in the Gazette of India as S.O. 3270(E) on July 18, 2025, was promulgated under the authority of the Railways Act, 1989. The acquisition is necessitated by a public purpose, specifically the execution, maintenance, management, and operation of a designated Special Railway Project known as the Jalgaon-Bhadli Additional Line. This project involves the construction of an 11-kilometer additional rail line intended to facilitate Central Railway traffic.

The notification identified land situated within Jalgaon City, specifying a total acquisition area of 1,264.41 square meters from a larger land holding of 14,348.8 square meters. The affected properties include land identified under survey numbers 2211/48, 2352, and 2374, held by private individuals. The Central Government expressed its satisfaction that these lands are essential for the infrastructure development of the rail network in the region. The legislation provided: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989) (hereinafter 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 been given in schedule annexed hereto, is required for purpose of execution, maintenance, management and operation of Special Railway Project, namely Jalgaon-Bhadli Additional Line for CR Traffic (11 Kms) in the District of Jalgaon in the State of Maharashtra, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.”

The legislative intent behind this notification is rooted in the policy rationale of expanding the national railway infrastructure to accommodate growing transport demands. By utilizing Section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 a provision introduced through the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008 the government has invoked a specialized statutory framework designed to expedite the acquisition of land for projects of national importance. This framework addresses the limitations of prior general land acquisition laws by providing a streamlined process specifically for railway-related developments.

To ensure procedural fairness, the notification established a clear enforcement mechanism and timeline for affected parties. Any person with an interest in the scheduled land was granted a period of thirty days from the date of the notification’s publication in the Official Gazette to raise objections. Such objections must be submitted in writing to the Competent Authority, designated as the Sub Divisional Officer of Jalgaon. The statutory procedure mandates that the Competent Authority must provide the objector with an opportunity to be heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner (a professional authorized to practice law). Following this hearing and any further necessary inquiry, the authority is empowered to issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections. Under Section 20D of the Act, any such order made by the Competent Authority is final and binding.

The notification also ensured transparency by making detailed land plans and relevant documents available for inspection at the office of the Competent Authority. This administrative action serves to bridge the gap between infrastructure requirements and the legal rights of landholders, providing a structured environment for the resolution of disputes while advancing the Jalgaon-Bhadli Additional Line project. The notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette, marking the commencement of the formal acquisition process for this 11-kilometer rail expansion.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, Land Acquisition, Jalgaon-Bhadli Railway Project, Central Railway, Ministry of Railways, Special Railway Project, Maharashtra Land Acquisition, Section 20A Railways Act

Geo Tags: India, Maharashtra
District: Jalgaon