Ministry of Railways Initiates Land Acquisition for Road Over Bridge Project in Goa

The Ministry of Railways, acting through the South Western Railway Construction Organisation, issued a statutory notification on July 21, 2025, declaring its intention to acquire land for a significant infrastructure development in the State of Goa. This notification, registered as S.O. 3348(E), was published in the Gazette of India under the powers conferred by the Railway Act, 1989. The acquisition specifically targeted land required for the execution of a Special Railway Project involving the construction of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) on the Londa-Vasco route. This project aimed to replace Level Crossing No. 17, thereby enhancing safety and streamlining traffic flow in the region.

The notification identified a total area of 3.3793 hectares across the villages of Xelvona and Odar. The Ministry expressed its satisfaction that the land was necessary for a public purpose, specifically for the expansion and safety of the railway network. Under the statutory framework, any person with an interest in the specified land was granted a period of thirty days from the date of publication to raise objections regarding the acquisition. These objections must be submitted in writing to the Competent Authority, designated as the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Officer of Quepem, with the Secretary (Revenue) of South Goa serving as the Arbitrator for the land acquisition process.

The legislative intent behind this notification was rooted in the policy necessity to modernize railway infrastructure and eliminate hazardous level crossings (intersections where a railway line crosses a road at the same level). By invoking Section 20A of the Railway Act, 1989, the government utilized its power to acquire land for Special Railway Projects, which are deemed critical for national connectivity and public safety. The transition from a level crossing to a Road Over Bridge addressed long-standing statutory gaps regarding traffic congestion and the inherent risks of accidents at rail-road intersections.

The statutory procedure outlined in the notification ensured a formal mechanism for administrative grievance redressal. The legislation provided: “Any person interested in the said land may, within thirty days from the date of publication of this notification in the official Gazette, raise objection to the acquisition and use of such land for the aforesaid purpose under sub-section (1) of Section 20D of the said Act”. This provision mandated that the competent authority provide objectors an opportunity to be heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner (a person qualified to represent others in legal proceedings). Following such hearings and any necessary inquiries, the authority was empowered to allow or disallow the objections through an order that remains final under the Act.

The schedule annexed to the notification detailed specific survey numbers and sub-divisions within the affected villages to ensure statutory precision and transparency. Interested parties were informed that land plans and further details remained available for inspection at the office of the competent authority in South Goa. This administrative action effectively initiated the process of substituting private or local land holdings with statutory control for the purpose of railway construction. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on July 22, 2025.

Keywords: Ministry of Railways, Land Acquisition, Railway Act 1989, Road Over Bridge, Goa Infrastructure, Special Railway Project, South Western Railway, Xelvona, Odar

Geo Tags: India, Goa
District: South Goa