Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for New Railway Line in Chhattisgarh

The Ministry of Railways (South East Central Railway) issued Notification S.O. 3964(E) on August 20, 2025, which was subsequently published in the Official Gazette on August 29, 2025. This notification, issued under Section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (Act 24 of 1989), formally declared the Central Government's intention to acquire specific land parcels for a public purpose. The primary objective behind this declaration is the execution of a Special Railway Project involving the construction of a 4th railway line, spanning 9.20 kilometers, between Dadhapara and Belha within the South East Central Railway network. The identified land is situated in the Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh. The notification detailed the specific Khasra/Plot numbers and their respective areas in hectares within the Bilaspur District, amounting to a grand total of 0.4650 hectares, which are slated for acquisition, potentially with or without existing structures.

The legislation provided: “...the Central Government, after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the land brief description of which is given in the schedule annexed hereto is required for the execution of Special Railway Project, namely Construction of 4th line between Dadhapara-Belha of South East Central Railway (9.20 Km) in Bilaspur District in the state of Chhattisgarh, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.”

The notification further established a clear procedure for individuals interested in the affected land to raise objections. Any person with an interest in the land has a period of 30 days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette to submit an objection to the proposed acquisition. These objections must be made in writing to the designated Competent Authority, identified as the Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue), Belha Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, and must clearly state the grounds for objection. 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. Any order passed by the Competent Authority under sub-section (2) of section 20D of the Railways Act, 1989, is stipulated to be final. For transparency, land plans and other detailed information regarding the land covered by this notification are available for inspection by interested persons at the office of the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA).

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate crucial infrastructure development for the Indian Railways, aligning with the broader policy rationale of enhancing railway connectivity and capacity across the nation. This particular project aims to strengthen the railway network in Chhattisgarh, which is vital for both passenger and freight movement. The Railways Act, 1989, provides the statutory framework for such land acquisitions, ensuring that while public projects are advanced, due process is followed for affected landowners. The notification addresses the practical necessity of acquiring land for public utility projects, a common requirement for large-scale infrastructure. It introduces a specific obligation on landowners to respond within a defined timeline if they wish to contest the acquisition, thereby providing a structured mechanism for grievance redressal. The enforcement mechanism is clearly laid out, with the Competent Authority empowered to hear and decide on objections, ensuring that the acquisition process is conducted in accordance with the law. This notification, signed by Alok Tiwari, Chief Administrative Officer (Const.), serves as a direct implementation of the powers vested in the Central Government under the Railways Act, 1989, to acquire land for strategic railway expansion.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, land acquisition, South East Central Railway, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Dadhapara-Belha, railway project, infrastructure, Ministry of Railways, notification
Geo Tags: India, Chhattisgarh
District: Bilaspur