Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for Indore-Dahod Broad Gauge Railway Project

The Ministry of Railways, through its Western Railway (Construction Organization), issued a Notification, S.O. 622(E), on February 6, 2025, declaring its intention to acquire land for a significant public infrastructure project. This notification, published in the Official Gazette on the same date, initiates the process for the execution of a Special Railway Project involving the construction of a new Broad Gauge (BG) railway line connecting Indore and Dahod. The land identified for acquisition is located in Village Molana, Tehsil Sardarpur, District Dhar, within the state of Madhya Pradesh. The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by sub-section (i) of Section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), expressed its satisfaction that the land is required for this public purpose.

The notification outlines the procedure for interested parties to raise objections to the proposed acquisition. Any person with an interest in the specified land is granted a period of thirty days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette to submit objections. These objections must be made in writing to the designated competent authority, identified as the Sub-Divisional Officer Land Acquisition Officer, Tehsil Dhar, District Dhar (M.P.). The competent authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity of being heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner. Following the hearing of all objections and any necessary further inquiry, the competent authority will issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections. The legislation provided: “Any order made by the competent authority under sub-section (II) of section 20(D) of the said act shall be final.” Further details, including land plans and other relevant information concerning the land covered by this notification, are available for inspection at the office of the Competent Authority. The schedule annexed to the notification provides a brief description of the land under acquisition, specifying Khasra numbers (unique plot identification numbers) and the affected area in hectares, totaling approximately 26.28 hectares across various parcels in Village Molana.

This notification underscores the legislative intent to facilitate the timely development of crucial railway infrastructure projects across the nation. Operating within the statutory framework of the Railways Act, 1989, it leverages existing provisions for land acquisition to enable the construction of the Indore-Dahod new BG railway line, which is designed to pass through Jhabua, Sardarpur, Dhar, and Pithampur in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The policy rationale behind such declarations is to ensure that projects deemed vital for public utility and economic development, such as railway connectivity, can proceed efficiently while upholding principles of due process for affected landowners. The notification, by specifying the competent authority and a clear timeline for objections, establishes an enforcement mechanism that balances the public interest with the rights of individuals whose land is subject to acquisition. It does not introduce new rights or obligations beyond those already enshrined in the Railways Act, but rather operationalizes the existing legal framework for a specific project, ensuring transparency and an opportunity for redressal for those impacted.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Indore-Dahod railway, Broad Gauge line, Madhya Pradesh, Dhar district, Ministry of Railways, public purpose, infrastructure project, land notification

Geo Tags: India, Madhya Pradesh
District: Dhar