Notification under section 20E under the Railways Act, 1989 (bilingual) for District Aurangabad in the State of Bihar

## Report on Land Acquisition for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor Project in Aurangabad, Bihar **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a government notification regarding the acquisition of land in the Aurangabad district of Bihar for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) project. The notification declares the Central Government's intention to acquire specified land parcels, following the absence of objections after a public notification and due consideration by the Competent Authority. The key finding is the formal declaration that the identified land now vests absolutely in the Central Government, free from encumbrances, for the execution, maintenance, management, and operation of the EDFC. This affects landowners in the specified areas and significantly impacts the progress of the EDFC project. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide an overview of the government notification regarding the acquisition of land for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) project in the Aurangabad district of Bihar. The analysis is based solely on the provided policy text. **3. Policy Overview:** * The policy relates to the acquisition of land for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) project. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective, as stated in the provided text, is the acquisition of land for the *execution, maintenance, management, and operation* of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor in the Aurangabad district of Bihar. **4. Background and Rationale:** This is a notification regarding land acquisition, suggesting the policy likely addresses the need to secure land rights for infrastructure development. The text explicitly states that the intention to acquire land was previously declared via notification S.O.117 E, dated the 5th January, 2022, and that no objections were received and that the Competent Authority considered it. This suggests a process was followed to identify land and address concerns before this final declaration. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** Since this is a declaration following a process of notification, consideration of objections, and a report from the Competent Authority, the key provision is: * The declaration that the lands specified in the schedule annexed to the notification *shall be acquired* for the purpose of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor project. * The declaration that on publication of the notification, the land specified in the schedule annexed to the notification *shall vest absolutely in the Central Government free from all encumbrances.* This essentially means that the ownership of the identified land parcels is transferred to the Central Government, which is now free to use the land for the stated purpose. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this notification are: * **Landowners:** Specifically, the landowners listed in the schedule, such as Rampukar Prajapati (associated with plot 707 in Baddopur). They are directly affected by the land acquisition. * **Residents:** Residents of the areas mentioned (e.g., Phesar, Baddopur) who may be affected by the project's construction and operation. * **Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor Project Authorities:** These authorities can now proceed with the project on the acquired land. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** * The **Ministry of Railways Railway Board** issued the notification. * A **Competent Authority** is mentioned as having considered objections and submitted a report to the Central Government. * The **Central Government** is the acquiring entity. * **Timelines/Procedures:** * The process included the publication of an initial intention to acquire land (notification S.O.117 E, dated the 5th January, 2022). * Publication of the notification in daily newspapers (Dainik Jagran and Prabhat Khabar dated the 21st January, 2022). * Consideration of objections. * Submission of a report by the Competent Authority. * The provided notification serves as the formal declaration of acquisition and transfer of ownership. * The land vests absolutely in the Central Government *on publication of this notification in the official Gazette.* **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of this notification is to secure the land needed for the EDFC project. The likely impacts are: * **Project Advancement:** Facilitates the construction and operation of the EDFC in the Aurangabad district of Bihar. * **Landowner Impact:** Dispossession of landowners in the specified areas, necessitating resettlement and/or compensation (though compensation is not explicitly mentioned in this text). * **Economic Development:** Contributes to the overall economic development associated with the EDFC project. **9. Conclusion:** The government notification analyzed in this report signifies a crucial step in the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor project. It formally declares the acquisition of specific land parcels in the Aurangabad district of Bihar, transferring ownership to the Central Government. This is significant because it allows the project to proceed and has direct implications for the affected landowners and the overall progress of the EDFC. While the text focuses on the legal declaration, further policy details regarding compensation, resettlement, and project timelines are not detailed in this particular notification.

Key Entities Referenced