Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for Baramati-Lonand Broad-Gauge Railway Line in Maharashtra

The Ministry of Railways (Central Railway) issued a significant notification, S.O. 1060(E), on February 27, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of land for the Special Railway Project, namely the BARAMATI - LONAND VIA PHALTAN NEW BROAD-GAUGE LINE. This delegated legislation, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, on February 28, 2025, marks a crucial step in the development of railway infrastructure in Maharashtra. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

The Central Government’s decision to acquire the specified land followed a detailed statutory process initiated under the Railway Act, 1989 (24 of 1989). An initial notification, S.O 5625 (E), was published on December 27, 2024, declaring the government's intention to acquire land for the project. This preliminary notification, issued under sub-section (1) of section 20A of the said Act, outlined the purpose of the acquisition as the execution, maintenance, management, and operation of the broad-gauge line project in the Baramati district of Maharashtra. Subsequently, the substance of this intention notification was published in daily newspapers, including Dainik Hindustan Times (English), on January 20, 2025, by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Baramati, as mandated by sub-section (4) of section 20A of the Railway Act. The process involved inviting objections from affected parties. The current notification confirms that no objections related to the purpose of acquisition were received from the 08 villages within Baramati Taluka where the land is situated. Following this, the competent authority submitted its report to the Central Government in pursuance of sub-section 20E of the Railway Act, 1989.

Upon receiving the competent authority's report and exercising the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20E of the Railway Act, 1989, the Central Government declared the acquisition of the lands detailed in the annexed schedule. A key legal consequence of this declaration is that the land will transfer to the Central Government free from all encumbrances. The legislation provided: “…on publication of this notification in the official Gazette, the land specified in the schedule annexed hereto shall vest absolutely in the Central government free from all encumbrances.” This provision ensures a clear title for the acquired land, facilitating the smooth progress of the railway project. The acquired land, with or without structures, is located across 08 villages in Baramati Taluka, under the jurisdiction of the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition and Sub-Divisional Officer, Baramati, in the Pune district of Maharashtra. The schedule appended to the notification meticulously lists the survey numbers, land tenure systems, total area, and approximate land to be acquired in hectares for each parcel, along with the names of the landholders as per 7/12 extracts (a record of land rights in Maharashtra). The total approximate land to be acquired across Baramati (Pune) Taluka is 10.4955 hectares.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to advance critical infrastructure development by providing the necessary land for the BARAMATI - LONAND VIA PHALTAN NEW BROAD-GAUGE LINE Project. This project is vital for enhancing connectivity and facilitating economic activity in the region. The earlier legal position required a transparent and objection-handling process for land acquisition under the Railway Act, 1989. This notification addresses the procedural requirements by confirming the completion of the public consultation phase and the absence of objections, thereby clearing the path for the final acquisition. It effectively implements the provisions of the Railway Act, 1989, by converting the declared intention to acquire into a final vesting of land in the Central Government. This mechanism ensures that land required for public utility projects, such as railway lines, can be secured efficiently while adhering to statutory timelines and legal frameworks. The notification does not introduce new rights or obligations beyond those already established by the Railway Act, 1989, but rather enforces the existing statutory provisions for land acquisition for public purposes.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railway Act 1989, Baramati-Lonand Railway, Broad-Gauge Line, Maharashtra, Ministry of Railways, Central Government, Infrastructure Project, Public Purpose
Geo Tags: India, Maharashtra
District: Pune