Ministry of Railways Notifies Land Acquisition for Jarapada-Sambalpur City Railway Line Expansion

The Ministry of Railways, through its East Coast Railway (Construction) division, issued a Notification, S.O. 345(E), on January 21, 2026, declaring its intention to acquire land for a crucial Special Railway Project. This delegated legislation, published in the Gazette of India, pertains to the development of the 3rd and 4th railway lines spanning 254.4 kilometers from Jarapada to Sambalpur City within the Sambalpur district of Odisha. The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 20A of the Railways (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Act 24 of 1989), determined that the land, detailed in an annexed schedule, is required for this public purpose. The notification specifies that any person with an interest in the identified land may submit objections to its acquisition within thirty days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette. These objections must be made in writing to the designated competent authority, the Special Land Acquisition Officer at the Collectorate, Sambalpur, Odisha, and must clearly state 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, and following such hearing and any necessary further inquiry, may issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections. Any order passed by the competent authority under sub-section (2) of section 20D of the said Act is deemed final. The notification further clarifies that land plans and other pertinent details are available for inspection at the competent authority's office.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate the timely execution of vital railway infrastructure projects deemed essential for public service. The Railways (Amendment) Act, 1989, provides the statutory framework for such land acquisitions, ensuring that while public projects proceed, due process is afforded to affected landowners. The earlier legal position, as enshrined in the Railways Act, 1989, empowers the Central Government to acquire land for railway purposes, and this notification operationalizes those powers for a specific project. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government, after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the Land... is required for the execution of the Special Railway Project, namely, 3rd 4th Line from Jarapada to Sambalpur City (254.4 Km) in the district of Sambalpur in the state of Odisha, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.” This process addresses the need for systematic land procurement for large-scale infrastructure development, which often involves multiple parcels of private land across various villages. The provisions for raising objections and being heard by a competent authority serve as an enforcement mechanism, ensuring transparency and fairness in the acquisition process. This approach aims to balance the imperative of national development with the rights of individuals whose land is identified for acquisition. The notification, having been published on January 21, 2026, came into force on that date, initiating the thirty-day window for objections.

Keywords: Land acquisition, Railways Act 1989, Ministry of Railways, Sambalpur, Odisha, railway project, infrastructure, public purpose, land acquisition notification, Jarapada

Geo Tags: India, Odisha District: Sambalpur