Ministry of Railways Notifies Land Acquisition for Bilaspur Road Under Bridge Project

The Ministry of Railways, through its South East Central Railway division, issued a notification, S.O. 3672(E), on August 11, 2025, which was subsequently published in the Official Gazette on August 12, 2025. This notification formally declared the Central Government's intention to acquire land for a significant public purpose: the construction of a road under bridge approach road near Dadhapara Railway station (Level Crossing no. 369) in village-Nagar Panchayat Bodri, tehsil-Bilha, within the Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh. The action was taken in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (Act 24 of 1989), which empowers the Central Government to acquire land for railway projects. The land identified for acquisition, totaling 1.0532 hectares across six plots in Village Bodri, Tehsil Bodri, District Bilaspur, is deemed essential for the execution, maintenance, management, and operation of this special railway project. The notification outlined a clear process for affected parties, stipulating that any person interested in the said land may raise objections to the acquisition within a period of thirty days from the date of its publication. These objections must be submitted in writing to the designated Competent Authority, identified as the Sub-Divisional Officer (Bhu-Arjan Adhikari) Bilha, Chhattisgarh, detailing the grounds for objection. The Competent Authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity of being heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner, and may, after due inquiry, either allow or disallow the objections. Any order issued by the Competent Authority under sub-section (2) of section 20D of the Railways Act, 1989, shall be considered final. Land plans and other pertinent details regarding the land covered by this notification are available for inspection by interested persons at the office of the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA).

The legislative intent behind this notification aligns with the broader policy rationale of enhancing railway infrastructure and connectivity across the nation. The Railways Act, 1989, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, ensuring that public projects deemed vital for national development can proceed while also incorporating a mechanism for addressing concerns of affected landowners. The notification specifically addresses the need for improved road infrastructure around railway crossings, a common point of congestion and safety concern. By facilitating the construction of a road under bridge, the project aims to streamline traffic flow, enhance safety, and improve operational efficiency for both road users and the railway system. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the land, brief description of which has given in the schedule annexed here to, is required for the execution maintenance, management and operation of the Special Railway Project, namely, Construction of Road under bridge approach road proposed near Dadhapara Railway station (Dadhapara Level Crossing no. 369), village-Nagar Panchayat Bodri, tehsil-Bilha (District-Bilaspur) policy of Ministry of Railways. Here by declares its intention to acquire such land.” This provision underscores the government's commitment to public utility projects. The established objection mechanism under section 20D of the Railways Act, 1989, serves as a crucial safeguard, allowing individuals to present their case before the acquisition becomes final, thereby balancing public interest with individual rights. This process ensures transparency and due diligence in land acquisition proceedings, preventing arbitrary actions and providing a formal channel for redressal. The notification does not introduce new rights but rather operationalizes existing statutory provisions for land acquisition, ensuring that infrastructure development proceeds within a legally defined and procedurally fair framework.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Dadhapara Railway station, Road under bridge, Ministry of Railways, Infrastructure project, Public purpose, Land acquisition notification

Geo Tags: India, Chhattisgarh
District: Bilaspur