Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for Khandwa-Akola Railway Gauge Conversion Project

The Ministry of Railways, through Notification S.O. 971(E), issued on February 19, 2025, and published in the Official Gazette on February 25, 2025, announced its intention to acquire land for a special railway project. This delegated legislation, issued by the Central Government, pertains to the gauge conversion work between Khandwa and Akola in District Burhanpur, located in the State of Madhya Pradesh. The notification specifies that the land, a detailed description of which is provided in an annexed Schedule, is deemed necessary for a public purpose, namely the execution of this critical railway infrastructure project. The legal basis for this action is derived from sub-section (1) of section 20(A) of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989). The notification outlines a statutory process for affected individuals to raise objections to the proposed acquisition. Any person with an interest in the identified land is granted a period of 30 days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette to submit objections regarding the acquisition and subsequent use of the land. These objections must be submitted in writing to the Competent Authority, identified as the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) Napanagar, District Burhanpur, and must clearly state the grounds for objection. The Competent Authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity to be heard, including representation by a legal practitioner, and may conduct further inquiry before issuing an order to either allow or reject the objections. The notification further stipulates that any order issued by the Competent Authority under sub-section (ii) of section 20(D) of the said Act shall be considered final. The land plan and other pertinent details covered by this notification are available for inspection by any interested person at the office of the Competent Authority. The Schedule annexed to the notification provides brief details of the land parcels to be acquired, with or without structures, specifying survey numbers, total area in hectares, type of land, nature of land, and the area acquired in square meters across various villages and tehsils within the Burhanpur District, including Mohna (Usarni), Usarni, Shekhapur, Tukaithad, Khadki, Pangri, Mohangarh, Sawali, Kardali, Rangai, and Khaknar.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate the timely and efficient development of essential railway infrastructure, specifically the gauge conversion project, which is crucial for enhancing connectivity and operational efficiency within the Indian railway network. The Railways Act, 1989, provides the overarching statutory framework for such land acquisitions, balancing the imperative of public utility projects with the rights of landowners. This particular notification addresses the practical implementation of this framework for a specific project, ensuring that the necessary land can be secured while adhering to due process. The provision for a 30-day objection period and a hearing before the Competent Authority serves to mitigate potential grievances and ensures transparency in the acquisition process, thereby addressing potential issues related to land rights and fair procedure. The legislation provided: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20(A) of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), the Central Government being satisfied that the land, the brief description of which is given in the Schedule annexed hereto, is required for public purpose for execution of a special railway project, namely, gauge conversion work between Khandwa-Akola in District Burhanpur in the State of Madhya Pradesh, hereby announces its intention to acquire such land.” This mechanism allows for a structured approach to land acquisition, ensuring that while the public purpose of railway expansion is served, individual concerns are heard and adjudicated by a designated authority. The finality clause for the Competent Authority's order aims to prevent undue delays in project execution, which is often critical for large-scale infrastructure initiatives. This notification, therefore, operationalizes the existing legal provisions to enable the progression of a significant railway development project.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railways Act 1989, gauge conversion, Khandwa-Akola, Madhya Pradesh, Burhanpur, public purpose, railway project, Ministry of Railways, infrastructure development

Geo Tags: India, Madhya Pradesh
District: Burhanpur