Ministry of Railways Notifies Intention to Acquire Land for Ajmer-Chanderiya Railway Doubling Project

The Ministry of Railways, through its North Western Railway (Construction Organization), issued Notification S.O. 888(E) on February 19, 2025, declaring its intention to acquire land for a significant railway infrastructure project. This notification, a form of delegated legislation, was issued in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008 (Act 11 of 2008). The Central Government determined that the land was required for the public purpose of executing, maintaining, managing, and operating a Special Railway Project involving the doubling of the railway line between the Ajmer-Chanderiya section, spanning 178.28 kilometers, within the Ajmer Division of North Western Railway. The specific land parcels identified for acquisition are located in Tehsil Bijainagar, within the newly formed district of Beawar in the state of Rajasthan. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

The notification detailed the specific land parcels to be acquired, including both government and private lands, across various villages such as Baral-2, Bijainagar, Shikhrani-1, and Mokhampura, all within Tehsil Bijainagar. A comprehensive schedule appended to the notification provided survey numbers (Khasra No.), type of land, and the exact area in square meters and hectares for each parcel. The total land area specified for acquisition includes numerous plots, some of which are privately owned. The notification established a clear procedure for individuals interested in the said land to raise objections to its acquisition and use. Such objections must be submitted in writing to the competent authority, identified as the Sub-divisional officer Masuda, District- Beawar, Rajasthan, within a period of thirty days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette. The competent authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity of being heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner, and may conduct further inquiry before issuing an order to either allow or disallow the objections. Any order issued by the competent authority under sub-section (2) of section 20D of the said Act is deemed final. Furthermore, land plans and other detailed information regarding the land covered by this notification are available for inspection by interested persons at the office of the competent authority.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate the timely and efficient development of critical railway infrastructure in Rajasthan. The policy rationale underscores the necessity of enhancing railway capacity and operational efficiency through the doubling of the Ajmer-Chanderiya section, which is crucial for improving connectivity and supporting regional economic growth. This action is an implementation of the existing statutory framework established by the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008, which empowers the Central Government to acquire land for railway projects deemed to be for a public purpose. The notification addresses the practical requirement of initiating the land acquisition process for this specific project, thereby enabling the expansion of the railway network. It creates a statutory obligation for affected parties to engage with the acquisition process within a defined timeline, while simultaneously granting them the right to due process, including the opportunity to present their concerns. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government, after being satisfied for the public purpose, the land, the brief description of which is given in the Schedule below, is required for execution. maintenance, management and operation of Special Railway Project of Doubling between Ajmer-Chanderiya section (178.28km) of Ajmer Division of North Western Railway in the stretch of land in Tehsil Bijainagar , district of Beawar in the state of Rajasthan, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.” This declaration is a foundational step in the project, ensuring that the necessary land is secured under legal provisions for public utility.

Keywords: Railway land acquisition, Ajmer-Chanderiya doubling, North Western Railway, Rajasthan, land notification, infrastructure project, Beawar district, Bijainagar tehsil, public purpose

Geo Tags: India, Rajasthan District: Beawar