**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Railways issued this notification on April 28, 2026, to appoint "Competent Authorities" for the "Aluabari Road - New Jalpaiguri 3rd & 4th Line" special railway project. Published in the Gazette of India on May 9, 2026, the order empowers designated officers in Bihar and West Bengal to perform functions under the Railways Act, 1989. These appointments are effective immediately from the date of publication to facilitate the execution, maintenance, and management of the project.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Legal Framework and Purpose**
* The notification is issued under the powers conferred by clause (7A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989.
* The project is declared a "special railway project" for public purposes, encompassing execution, maintenance, management, and operation.
* The authorization is effective from May 9, 2026, the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
**Designated Competent Authorities**
* **Kishanganj, Bihar:** The District Land Acquisition Officer is appointed as the Competent Authority.
* **Jalpaiguri, West Bengal:** The Additional District Magistrate (LA) is appointed as the Competent Authority.
* **Darjeeling, West Bengal:** The Additional District Magistrate (LA) is appointed as the Competent Authority.
* **Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal:** The Additional District Magistrate (LA) is appointed as the Competent Authority.
**Project Scope**
* The project involves the development of the 3rd and 4th lines between Aluabari Road and New Jalpaiguri.
* The geographical scope is limited to the specific districts mentioned in the states of Bihar and West Bengal.
**Impact Analysis**
**Designated District Officers (Competent Authorities)**
**Impact**
These officers are now legally vested with the powers of a "Competent Authority" under the Railways Act, 1989, specifically for the Aluabari Road - New Jalpaiguri project.
**Action Required**
The officers must perform all statutory functions, including those related to land acquisition and project management, as required by the Act for this specific railway project.
**Ministry of Railways (Northeast Frontier Railway)**
**Impact**
The Ministry gains the necessary administrative and legal machinery at the local district level to proceed with the special railway project.
**Action Required**
The Construction Organisation of the Northeast Frontier Railway must coordinate with the newly appointed authorities to execute the project.
**Landowners and Residents in Covered Districts**
**Impact**
Residents in Kishanganj, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, and Uttar Dinajpur are subject to the administrative decisions of these designated authorities regarding the railway project.
**Action Required**
Any public or private dealings, grievances, or legal matters concerning land or the project's execution must be directed to the respective Competent Authority in their district.
Key Entities Referenced
Railways Act, 1989: The primary legislation (specifically Section 2, clause 7A) under which the Central Government authorizes 'Competent Authorities' for railway projects.
Aluabari Road - New Jalpaiguri 3rd & 4th Line: A special railway project for which this notification designates specific officers to perform functions related to execution, maintenance, and management.
Ministry of Railways: The central ministry overseeing the Northeast Frontier Railway and responsible for the notification and implementation of the special railway project.
Bihar and West Bengal: The states where the special railway project is located and where the designated competent authorities in Kishanganj, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, and Uttar Dinajpur hold jurisdiction.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-ए.एस.-अ.-11052026-272445
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-ASx-xExG-1ID1E0x5x2x0 26-272445
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 2289] िई दिल्ली, िजिर्वार, मई 9, 2026/र्वैिाख 19, 1948
No. 2289] NEW DELHI, SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026/VAISAKHA 19, 1948
रेल मत्रं ालय
[पूर्वोत्तर सीमान्त रेलर्व े (जिमाणा सगं ठि)]
अजधसचू िा
मालीगााँर्व, 28 अप्रैल, 2026
का.आ. 2380(अ).— रेलवे अधिधियम, 1989 (1989 का 24) की िारा 2 के खडं (7A) द्वारा प्रदत्त शधियों का
प्रयोग करते हुए, केंद्र सरकार एतद्द्वारा िीच े दी गई ताधलका के स्तंभ (2) म ें उधललधखत अधिकारी को "सक्षम प्राधिकारी" के
रूप म ेंप्राधिकृत करती ह,ै ताकक वह उि अधिधियम के तहत ऐसे प्राधिकारी के रूप म ेंअपिे कायों का धिववहि कर सके। यह
अधिकार इस अधिसूचिा के राजपत्र म ें प्रकाशि की तारीख स े प्रभावी होगा और धिहार तथा पधिम िंगाल राज्यों म ें
"अलुआिाडी रोड - न्य ू जलपाईगुडी तीसरी और चौथी लाइि" िामक धवशेष रेलवे पररयोजिा के संिंि म ें लागू होगा; यह
पररयोजिा उि ताधलका के स्तभं (3) म ेंउधललधखत धजलों स ेसिं ंधित ह ैऔर इसका उद्देश्य उि धवशेष रेलवे पररयोजिा का
धिष्पादि, रखरखाव, प्रिंिि और संचालि करिा ह,ै जो कक एक साववजधिक प्रयोजि ह।ै
3318 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
सारणी
क् स ं सक्षम प्राधिकारी ध़िला राज्य
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1 धजला भू-अजिव पदाधिकारी, ककशिगंज ककशिगंज धिहार
2 अपर ध़िला मधजस्रेट (LA), जलपाईगडु ी जलपाईगडु ी पधिम िंगाल
3 अपर ध़िला मधजस्रेट (LA), दार्जवललंग दार्जवललंग पधिम िंगाल
4 अपर ध़िला मधजस्रेट (LA), उत्तर कदिाजपुर उत्तर कदिाजपुर पधिम िंगाल
[फा. सं. W/207/CON/NJP/LAND/AUB-NJP 3rd & 4th Line]
संिीर्व कुमार, मख्ु य अजभयंता/एििेपी पररयोििाए ं
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
[Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction Organisation)]
NOTIFICATION
Maligaon, the 28th April, 2026
S.O. 2380(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (7A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989
(24 of 1989), the Central Government hereby authorise the officer mentioned in column (2) of the table below as
“Competent Authority” to perform the functions as such authority under the said Act with effect from the date of
publication of this notification in the Official Gazette in respect of the special railway project of “Aluabari Road - New
Jalpaiguri 3rd & 4th Line” in the State of Bihar & West Bengal relating to districts mentioned in Column (3) of the
said table for the public purpose of execution maintenance, management and operation of such special Railway Project.
TABLE
Sl. Competent Authority District State
No.
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1 District Land Acquisition Officer, Kishanganj Kishanganj Bihar
2 Additional District Magistrate (LA), Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri West Bengal
3 Additional District Magistrate (LA), Darjeeling Darjeeling West Bengal
4 Additional District Magistrate (LA), Uttar Dinajpur Uttar Dinajpur West Bengal
[F. No. W/207/CON/NJP/LAND/AUB-NJP 3rd & 4th Line]
SANJEEV KUMAR, Chief Engineer/NJP Projects
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.