Railways Ministry Notifies Intent to Acquire Land for Gujarat Gauge Conversion Project

The Ministry of Railways, specifically its Western Railway (Construction Organization), issued a Notification, S.O. 5746(E), on December 11, 2025, declaring its intention to acquire land for a special railway project. This delegated legislation, published in the Official Gazette on the same date, came into force immediately upon its publication. The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by sub-section (I) of section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (Act 24 of 1989), determined that land was required for the public purpose of executing the Adraj Moti-Vijapur Gauge Conversion Project in District Mahesana, Gujarat. The notification detailed the specific parcels of land intended for acquisition, including both private and government-owned plots, designated for agricultural, non-agricultural, wasteland, and public works purposes across villages such as Kanbha, Kotdi, and Vijapur within the Vijapur Taluka of Mahesana District.

The notification established a formal process for individuals affected by the proposed acquisition. Any person with an interest in the identified land was 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 subsequent use of the land for the railway project. Such objections were required to be submitted in writing to the designated competent authority, identified as the Prant officer, Visnagar, District Mahesana, and had to clearly state the grounds for objection. The competent authority was mandated to provide the objector an opportunity to be heard, either personally or through a legal practitioner. Following the hearing of objections and any necessary further inquiry, the competent authority was empowered to issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections, with such an order being final under sub-section (II) of section 20D of the Railways Act.

The legislative intent behind this notification was to facilitate the development of critical public infrastructure, specifically the Adraj Moti-Vijapur Gauge Conversion Project, which aims to enhance railway connectivity and efficiency in the region. The Railways Act, 1989, provides the statutory framework for such land acquisitions, ensuring that while land is procured for public utility, a structured mechanism exists for addressing concerns of affected parties. The notification, by clearly outlining the land parcels and the objection procedure, ensures transparency and adherence to due process in land acquisition. 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, Adraj Moti -Vijapur Gauge Conversion Project in District Mahesana in the state of Gujarat, hereby declares its intention to acquired such land.” This process allows for public participation in decisions impacting private property, balancing the need for public projects with individual rights. Interested persons were also informed that land plans and other relevant details pertaining to the land covered by the notification were available for inspection at the office of the competent authority.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Gauge Conversion, Mahesana, Gujarat, Public Purpose, Notification, Western Railway, Infrastructure Project

Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: Mahesana