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

The Ministry of Railways, through its Western Railway (Construction Organization), issued Notification S.O. 963(E) on February 24, 2025, declaring the acquisition of specific land parcels in Gujarat. This notification formalizes the Central Government's intent to acquire land for the construction of a 2-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) in lieu of Level Crossing No. 270 at KM 444/0-2, situated between the Vadodara-Geratpur section of the Vadodara Division on Western Railway. The process commenced with an initial notification, No. 2795, dated July 18, 2024, published in the Gazette of India, which outlined the intention to acquire land under sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railway Act, 1989 (24 of 1989). The substance of this initial notification was subsequently published in local Gujarati and Hindi newspapers, as well as The Times of India, on July 24, 2024, in accordance with sub-section (4) of section 20A of the said Act. No objections were received by the competent authority following these public notices. The current notification, coming into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on February 24, 2025, signifies the final stage of the acquisition process, vesting the specified land absolutely in the Central Government. The land, primarily private agricultural and non-agricultural plots, is located in Uttarsanda village, Nadiad Taluka, Kheda District, Gujarat, and includes various survey numbers and land ownership details as per the annexed schedule.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate the timely execution, maintenance, management, and operation of critical railway infrastructure. The policy rationale underscores the necessity of upgrading railway crossings to enhance safety and improve traffic flow, replacing existing level crossings with Road Over Bridges (ROBs). The earlier legal position, governed by the Railway Act, 1989, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, ensuring due process, including public notification and consideration of objections. This notification addresses the practical requirement of securing land for the project, thereby resolving potential bottlenecks in infrastructure development. The acquisition, carried out under sub-section (1) of section 20E of the Railway Act, 1989, follows the submission of a report by the competent authority to the Central Government. 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 declaration ensures that the acquired land becomes the property of the Central Government, free from any prior claims or liabilities, enabling the unhindered progress of the railway project. The notification does not introduce new rights or obligations beyond those already established by the Railway Act, 1989, but rather implements the enforcement mechanism for land acquisition as stipulated by the Act.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railway Act 1989, Road Over Bridge, Western Railway, Gujarat, Kheda, infrastructure, notification, Central Government, Vadodara
Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: Kheda