Ministry of Railways Notifies Land Acquisition for New Railway Lines in Korba District, Chhattisgarh

The Ministry of Railways issued a notification, S.O. 705 (E), on February 11, 2025, under Section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989, declaring its intention to acquire land for a special railway project in Chhattisgarh. This statutory order, published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary, detailed the Central Government's decision to proceed with the acquisition of land for the construction of the 3rd and 4th Railway lines between Saragbundia and Madwarani, spanning approximately 6.1 kilometers each (2x6.1 Km), as part of the South East Central Railway network. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

The Central Government, having been satisfied that the land was required for a public purpose, specifically the execution of this critical railway infrastructure project, outlined the process for affected parties. The notification specified that any person interested in the identified land could raise objections to the proposed acquisition within a period of 30 days from the date of its publication. Such objections must be submitted in writing to the designated Competent Authority, identified as the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) at the SDM office in Korba, Chhattisgarh. The Competent Authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity of being heard, either personally or through a legal practitioner, and may, after due inquiry, either allow or disallow the objections. Any order passed by the Competent Authority under sub-section (2) of Section 20D of the Railways Act, 1989, is deemed final. The land plans and other relevant details pertaining to the land covered by this notification are 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, brief description of which is given in the schedule annexed hereto is required for execution of Special Railway project, namely 3rd & 4th Railway line between Saragbundia and Madwarani of South East Central Railway (2x6.1 Km) in the state of Chhattisgarh, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land”.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate the expansion and modernization of India's railway network, a key component of national infrastructure development. The Railways Act, 1989, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, ensuring that land required for public projects can be obtained efficiently while also safeguarding the rights of affected landowners through a structured objection and hearing process. This particular project aims to enhance railway connectivity and capacity in the South East Central Railway zone, addressing the growing transportation needs of the region. The acquisition process, governed by Sections 20A and 20D of the Act, ensures transparency and due process, allowing individuals to voice concerns before a final decision on land acquisition is made. The schedule annexed to the notification provided a detailed description of the land parcels, including Khasra numbers (unique plot identification numbers) and their respective areas in hectares (a unit of land area), across villages like Purena, Barpali, and Kharhari within the Korba District, totaling 9.4865 hectares. This mechanism ensures that infrastructure projects vital for public good, such as railway lines, can progress with a legally defined procedure for land procurement.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, land acquisition, Chhattisgarh, Korba, Ministry of Railways, special railway project, Saragbundia, Madwarani, South East Central Railway, infrastructure
Geo Tags: India, Chhattisgarh
District: Korba