Railways Ministry Notifies Land Acquisition for Road Over Bridge Project in Telangana

The Ministry of Railways, through its South Central Railway division, issued a Preliminary Notification, S.O. 5649(E), on December 4, 2025, which was subsequently published in the Gazette of India on Monday, December 8, 2025. This notification signifies the Central Government's intention to acquire land for a crucial Special Railway Project in Telangana. The instrument, issued under sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), details the requirement for land to facilitate the construction of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) in place of Level Crossing (LC) No. 18. This specific infrastructure development is planned at Kilometer 335/22-24, situated between Jammikunta and Uppal stations within the Karimnagar District of Telangana. The notification explicitly states that the Central Government is satisfied that the land, briefly described in the annexed schedule, is required for this public purpose.

The legislation provided: “…the Central Government after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the land, the brief description of which is given in the schedule annexed hereto, is required for the execution of the Special Railway Project, namely, Construction of ROB in lieu of LC 18 at Km. 335/22-24 between Jammikunta and Uppal stations in Karimnagar District in the state of Telangana, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land”. Following the publication, any individual with an interest in the specified land is granted a period of thirty days to raise objections to the proposed acquisition and its intended use. These objections must be submitted in writing to the designated competent authority, identified as the Revenue Divisional Officer, Huzurabad, Karimnagar District, and must clearly outline the grounds for objection. The competent authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity to be heard, either personally or through a legal practitioner. After considering all objections and conducting any necessary further inquiry, the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) will issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections, and this order, made under sub-section (2) of section 20D of the said Act, shall be final. Detailed land plans and other relevant information pertaining to the land covered by this notification are available for inspection at the office of the competent authority. The schedule annexed to the notification identifies land parcels in Madipalli village, Jammikunta mandal, Karimnagar district, totaling approximately 5.100 acres, classified as dry/patta land, along with details of existing structures and trees.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to advance critical railway infrastructure development, specifically by replacing existing level crossings with Road Over Bridges. This policy rationale aims to enhance safety for both railway operations and road users by eliminating direct intersections, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and improving traffic flow. The Railways Act, 1989, forms the foundational statutory framework for such land acquisitions, providing the legal mechanism for the government to acquire private land for public projects. This notification addresses the specific need for land to implement a particular project, rather than amending the broader legal framework. It establishes a clear process for land acquisition, including a defined timeline for public engagement through the objection mechanism. While the notification itself does not introduce new laws, it creates specific obligations for landowners whose properties are identified for acquisition and grants them the right to formally object to the process. The enforcement mechanism is clearly laid out, with the Revenue Divisional Officer acting as the competent authority to hear and decide on objections, ensuring a structured approach to land acquisition for public utility projects.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Road Over Bridge, Telangana, Karimnagar, Public Purpose, Preliminary Notification, Ministry of Railways, Infrastructure Project, Landowners

Geo Tags: India, Telangana
District: Karimnagar