Ministry of Railways Issues Notification for Land Acquisition for Kottavalasa-Vizianagaram Special Railway Project

The Ministry of Railways, acting through the East Coast Railway (Construction), issued a statutory notification on September 26, 2025, declaring its intention to acquire land for a Special Railway Project in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Published in the Gazette of India as S.O. 4416(E), the notification was issued under the powers conferred by Section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989. The acquisition is specifically intended for the execution of the 4th line between Kottavalasa and Vizianagaram, a project spanning approximately 34.70 kilometers. This legislative instrument marks the formal commencement of the land acquisition process within the Vizianagaram district, affecting specific parcels of land in the villages of Datti and Katakapalli under the Kothavalasa Mandal.

The notification specified that the Central Government reached a satisfaction that the identified land is required for a public purpose. The total area identified for acquisition across the two villages amounts to 2.074 acres, which is equivalent to 0.839 hectares. The schedule annexed to the notification categorized the land into various types, including private "R.Dry" and "R.WET" lands, as well as government-owned "Sarkar Poramboku" land. In Datti village, the government seeks to acquire 0.882 acres, while 1.192 acres are identified for acquisition in Katakapalli village. The notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

The legislation provided: “In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (24/89) (hereinafter referred as the said Act.), the Central Government, after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the Land, brief description of which is given in the schedule annexed here to , is required for the execution of Special Railway Project , namely, 4th line between Kottavalasa-Vizianagaram (34.70 Km) in Vizianagaram district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.”

The primary legislative intent and policy rationale behind this notification is to facilitate the expansion of critical railway infrastructure to meet increasing logistical and passenger demands in the region. By invoking Section 20A, the government addressed the necessity of establishing a fourth line to enhance connectivity and operational efficiency between Kottavalasa and Vizianagaram. The statutory framework of the Railways Act, 1989, provides a structured mechanism for the acquisition of land for "Special Railway Projects," ensuring that infrastructure development proceeds under a clear legal mandate. This framework was designed to address statutory gaps in earlier land acquisition processes by providing a streamlined path for projects of national importance.

To safeguard the rights of affected parties, the notification outlined a strict enforcement mechanism for raising grievances. Any person interested in the identified land was granted a period of thirty days from the date of publication to raise objections regarding the acquisition under Section 20D of the Act. These objections must be submitted in writing to the Special Land Acquisition Officer in Vizianagaram, who serves as the competent authority for this project. The statutory process requires the competent authority to provide objectors with an opportunity to be heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner (a person qualified to practice law). Following an inquiry, the authority may allow or disallow the objections through an order, which the Act stipulates shall be final.

The notification further clarified that land plans and detailed descriptions of the affected plots are available for inspection by interested persons at the office of the competent authority. This transparency is intended to ensure that all stakeholders are fully informed of the proceedings. By substituting the general land use with a dedicated railway corridor, the notification serves the broader policy objective of national infrastructure growth while maintaining a statutory timeline for objections and finality in administrative decision-making.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, Land Acquisition, Vizianagaram, East Coast Railway, Special Railway Project, Section 20A, Ministry of Railways, Andhra Pradesh, Gazette Notification

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh
District: Vizianagaram