Ministry of Railways Notifies Land Acquisition for Gujarat Railway Over Bridge Project

The Ministry of Railways, through its Western Railway (Construction Organization), issued a significant notification, G.S.R. 532(E), on August 5, 2025, which was subsequently published in the Official Gazette on August 6, 2025. This notification formally declares the Central Government's intention to acquire land for a crucial public purpose: the execution of a Special Railway Project. The project specifically involves the "CONSTRUCTION OF 2 LANE ROB IN LIUE OF LC NO.257 AT KM 426/18-20 BETWEEN SECTION VADODARA-GERATPUR OF VADODARA DIVISION ON WESTERN RAILWAY" within the Anand District of Gujarat. The notification, issued under the powers conferred by sub-section (I) of section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), details the land required, providing a brief description in an annexed schedule. This schedule identifies specific parcels of land in Village Gopalpura, Taluka Anand, District Anand, Gujarat, including both private non-agriculture and agriculture land, totaling 0-46-00 square meters across survey numbers 424, 444, 446, and 447.

The notification outlines a clear process for individuals affected by the proposed acquisition. Any person with an interest in the identified land is granted a period of thirty days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette to raise objections to the acquisition and its intended use. Such objections must be submitted in writing to the designated competent authority, identified as the Prant Officer Anand, located at New Jilla Seva Sadan, Near Ganesh Chowkdi, Anand. The competent authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity of being heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner. Following the hearing of all objections and any further necessary inquiry, the competent authority will issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections, and this decision, made under sub-section (II) of section 20D of the Railways Act, 1989, shall be final. For transparency, the land plans and other pertinent details related to the land covered by this notification are made available for inspection by interested persons at the office of the competent authority. The legislation provided: “the Central Government after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the land, the brief description of which has given in the schedule annexed hereto, is required for execution of the Special Railway Project, namely, CONSTRUCTION OF 2 LANE ROB IN LIUE OF LC NO.257 AT KM 426/18-20 BETWEEN SECTION VADODARA-GERATPUR OF VADODARA DIVISION ON WESTERN RAILWAY in District ANAND in the State of Gujarat, hereby declares its intention to acquired such land”.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate essential infrastructure development by operationalizing the provisions of the Railways Act, 1989, for specific projects deemed vital for public benefit. The Railways Act, 1989, establishes the statutory framework for the construction and maintenance of railways, including the acquisition of land necessary for such endeavors. This notification addresses the practical requirement of securing land for the construction of a two-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) in place of an existing level crossing, a common measure to enhance safety and improve traffic flow on railway lines and adjacent roads. By exercising the powers under sections 20A and 20D of the Act, the Central Government ensures that the necessary land can be acquired in a structured and legally compliant manner, while also providing a mechanism for affected parties to voice their concerns. The process, including the thirty-day objection period and the hearing by a competent authority, serves as an enforcement mechanism, balancing the public interest in infrastructure development with the rights of individual landowners. This specific project aims to replace a level crossing, which often causes delays and poses safety risks, with an ROB, thereby improving connectivity and safety for both rail and road users in the Vadodara-Geratpur section of the Western Railway.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Ministry of Railways, Gujarat, Anand District, Railway Over Bridge, infrastructure project, public purpose, land notification
Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: Anand