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

The Ministry of Railways, through its East Coast Railway division, issued a notification on February 6, 2025, declaring its intention to acquire land for a critical Special Railway Project in Andhra Pradesh. This notification, designated S.O. 634(E), was published in the Official Gazette and came into force upon its publication. It specifically concerns the acquisition of land for the construction of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Km 821/9-11 between Vizianagaram (VZM) and Korukonda (KUK) on the Main Line of Waltair Division, which will replace a manned Level Crossing (LC No ML-463). The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989, expressed its satisfaction that the land was required for this public purpose. The legislation provided: “In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railways Act, 1989 (herein after referred as the said Act.), the Central Government, after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the Land, brief description of which is given in the schedule annexed here to is required for the execution of Special Railway Project, namely, Construction of Road Over Bridge in lieu of closing of manned LC No ML-463 at Km 821/9-11 between Vizianagaram (VZM) Korukonda (KUK) on Main Line of Waltair Division hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.” The notification detailed the specific parcels of land, totaling approximately 1.45 hectares, across various survey numbers in Vizianagaram district, classifying them primarily as private R.DRY (rain-fed dry) and R.WET (rain-fed wet) land. Any person with an interest in the identified land is permitted to raise objections to its acquisition within a period of thirty days from the notification's publication date. These objections must be submitted in writing to the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA), which for this project is the Joint Collector, Vizianagaram. The Competent Authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity to be heard, either personally 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 said Act will be considered final. Details regarding the land plans and other relevant information are available for inspection at the office of the Competent Authority.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate the timely execution of crucial railway infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing safety and operational efficiency. The construction of a Road Over Bridge directly addresses the issues associated with manned level crossings, such as traffic congestion and the risk of accidents, thereby improving public safety and ensuring smoother railway operations. The Railways Act, 1989, particularly its amended provisions, establishes a statutory framework for the acquisition of land for such public works. This notification utilizes that framework to overcome potential statutory gaps or limitations in land procurement for specific railway development initiatives. By declaring the intention to acquire land and outlining a clear process for objections and hearings, the notification ensures adherence to legal procedures while advancing the development of essential public infrastructure. The designation of a specific Competent Authority and the provision for a hearing mechanism underscore the commitment to a fair and transparent land acquisition process, balancing public interest with the rights of affected landowners.

Keywords: land acquisition, Railways Act, Road Over Bridge, Vizianagaram, East Coast Railway, infrastructure, public purpose, notification, land, Andhra Pradesh

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh
District: Vizianagaram