Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for Western Railway Over Bridge Project in Gujarat

The Ministry of Railways, through a notification issued by the Government of India, declared the acquisition of land for the construction of a two-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) in District Kheda, Gujarat. This instrument, S.O. 965(E), published in the Gazette of India on February 24, 2025, finalized the process initiated by a previous notification, S.O. 2633, dated July 5, 2024. The earlier notification, issued under sub-section (1) of Section 20A of the Railway Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), had expressed the Central Government's intention to acquire land for the "CONSTRUCTION OF 2 LANE ROAD OVER BRIDGE (ROB) IN LIEU OF LC NO.267 AT KM 441/16-18 BETWEEN SECTION VADODARA-GERATPUR OF VADODARA DIVISION ON WESTERN RAILWAY Project." The substance of that initial notification was subsequently published in local newspapers, including the Gujarati daily Sandesh, Hindi newspaper Younger Leader, and The Times of India, all on July 18, 2024, as required by sub-section (4) of Section 20A of the said Act. No objections were received by the competent authority following these publications.

Upon receipt of a report from the competent authority, as mandated by sub-section (1) of Section 20E of the Railway Act, 1989, the Central Government proceeded with the formal declaration of acquisition. The notification specifies that the land detailed in its annexed schedule shall be acquired for the stated purpose. Furthermore, it stipulates that upon its publication in the Official Gazette, the acquired land will vest absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances (legal claims or liabilities on the property). The schedule lists various parcels of private agricultural and non-agricultural land in Bhumel village, Nadiad (Rural) Taluka, Kheda District, along with their survey numbers, area in square meters, and names of land owners or interested persons. The total land area to be acquired is 2601 square meters. This notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on February 24, 2025.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate essential infrastructure development for the Western Railway, specifically the construction of a critical Road Over Bridge. This project aims to replace an existing level crossing (LC No. 267) at a specific kilometer point between Vadodara and Geratpur, thereby enhancing safety, improving traffic flow, and streamlining railway operations. The earlier legal framework under the Railway Act, 1989, established a clear process for land acquisition, beginning with a declaration of intent and a public consultation phase to address potential objections. This notification addresses the statutory requirement to finalize the acquisition once the preliminary steps, including public notice and the absence of objections, have been successfully completed. The legislation provided: "...the Central Government hereby declares that the land specified in the schedule annexed hereto shall be acquired for the aforesaid purpose; And, further, in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 20E of the said Act, the Central government here by declares that 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 vesting ensures that the Central Government obtains clear title to the land, enabling the timely execution and maintenance of the railway project without legal impediments. The notification serves as the enforcement mechanism for the acquisition, transferring ownership and control of the specified land to the Central Government for public utility.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railway Act 1989, Road Over Bridge, Western Railway, Gujarat, Kheda, infrastructure, notification, Central Government

Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: Kheda