Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for Western Dedicated Freight Corridor in Palghar

The Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) issued Notification S.O. 679(E) on January 28, 2025, which was published in the Official Gazette on February 10, 2025. This notification formally declared the Central Government's intention to acquire land for the public purpose of executing, maintaining, managing, and operating the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, a Special Railway Project. The land identified for acquisition is located in the District of Palghar, within the State of Maharashtra, and its brief description is provided in a schedule annexed to the notification. The issuance of this notification signifies the commencement of the land acquisition process under the provisions of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989).

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, after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the land, the brief description of which has been given in the schedule annexed hereto, is required for the purpose of execution, maintenance, management and operation of Special Railway Project, namely Western Dedicated Freight Corridor in the District of Palghar, in the State of Maharashtra, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land;”

The notification outlines a specific procedure for any person interested in the said land to raise objections to its acquisition and use. Such objections must be submitted within a period of thirty days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette. The designated Competent Authority for receiving these objections is the Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition), Surya Project, Dahanu, Palghar, Maharashtra. Objections are required to be made in writing, clearly stating the grounds for opposition. 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 and any necessary further inquiry, the Competent Authority will issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections, and this order shall be considered final under sub-section (2) of section 20D of the said Act. The land plans and other details pertaining to the land covered by this notification are available for inspection by interested persons at the office of the Competent Authority.

The primary aim of this notification is to facilitate the timely and lawful acquisition of land essential for the development of critical national infrastructure, specifically the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. This project is deemed to serve a significant public purpose, enhancing railway connectivity and freight movement across the region. The notification operationalizes the powers vested in the Central Government under the Railways Act, 1989, to acquire land for such strategic projects. By establishing a clear process for land acquisition, it addresses the practical necessity of securing land for large-scale public works. The inclusion of a formal objection mechanism ensures transparency and provides affected landowners with a statutory avenue to voice their concerns, thereby upholding principles of due process within the framework of land acquisition for public projects. This mechanism, including the specified timeline and the role of the Competent Authority, is crucial for the structured implementation of infrastructure development initiatives.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railways Act, Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, Palghar, Maharashtra, infrastructure, notification, public purpose, land acquisition process

Geo Tags: India, Maharashtra
District: Palghar