Date: 2026-07-16Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Publication of notification in Part II of Section 3 sub section (ii) of the extraordinary Gazette of India under Section 20E of sub section (1) of Railway Amendment Act 2008.
**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Railways issued this notification on July 16, 2026, to formally acquire land in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal for the Sivok-Rangpo (New Line) Special Railway Project. Following a public notice period in March 2026 where no objections were received, the Central Government exercised its powers under the Railways Act, 1989, to finalize the acquisition. Consequently, the specified land now vests absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Purpose and Scope**
* The land is being acquired for the execution, maintenance, management, and operation of a "Special Railway Project," specifically the Sivok-Rangpo New Line.
* The project is located within the Darjeeling district in the State of West Bengal.
* **Legal Procedural History**
* The intention to acquire the land was originally declared via notification S.O. 4578 (E) on October 7, 2025.
* Public notice of the acquisition was published on March 7, 2026, in three newspapers: *The Statement*, *Janpath Samachar*, and *Himalaya Darpan*.
* The Competent Authority received no objections or petitions from any person during the statutory period.
* **Final Declaration of Acquisition**
* Under Section 20E(1) of the Railways Act, 1989, the Central Government has officially declared the acquisition of the land described in the schedule.
* Under Section 20E(2), the land vests entirely in the Central Government upon the publication of this notification.
* **Specific Land Details**
* **Location:** Rangli Rangliot Thana, Rongchong Khasmahal Mouza, Darjeeling.
* **Total Area:** Approximately 0.376 hectares (0.931 acres) comprising three private plots.
* **Land Types:** Identified as "Sukha khet" (dry field) and "Banjho" (fallow land).
**Impact Analysis**
**Land Owners and Interested Persons (e.g., Ms. Ruthkelmith Lepcha, Shri Dipak Subbha)**
**Impact**
Private ownership of the specified plots is terminated. The land, including any structures therein, is now legally owned by the Central Government free from all prior claims or encumbrances.
**Action Required**
The identified owners and any other interested parties must relinquish the land to the Central Government as per the provisions of the Railways Act, 1989.
**Ministry of Railways (Northeast Frontier Railway)**
**Impact**
The Ministry gains absolute legal possession and authority over the scheduled land to proceed with the Sivok-Rangpo railway project.
**Action Required**
The Construction Organization must proceed with the execution, management, and maintenance of the new railway line on the acquired territory.
Key Entities Referenced
The Railways Act, 1989: The primary legislation under which Sections 20A and 20E are invoked to authorize the Central Government to acquire land for special railway projects.
Sivok–Rangpo (New Line) Special Railway Project: The specific railway infrastructure initiative for which land is being acquired for execution, maintenance, management, and operation.
District Darjeeling, West Bengal: The central geographical location and administrative jurisdiction where the land acquisition for the railway project is being implemented.
Ministry of Railways: The governing federal authority, acting through the Railway Board and Northeast Frontier Railway, responsible for the project and land acquisition notification.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-ए.एस.-अ.-22072026-274671
CG-Ax Sx -x EG -2ID 2H 07xx 2x
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 3767] िई किल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतर्वार, िुलाई 16, 2026/आषाढ 25, 1948
No. 3767] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026/ASHADHA 25, 1948
रेल मत्रं ालय
[पूर्वोत्तर सीमातं रेलर्व े(जिमाणा सगं ठि)]
अजधसचू िा
मालीगांर्व, 16 िुलाई, 2026
का.आ. 3931(अ).—िबकक भारत सरकार, रेल मंत्रालय (रेलर्वे बोडा) की अजधसूचिा संख्या S.O. 4578 (E) कििांक
07 अक्टूबर 2025, िो भारत के रािपत्र (असाधारण), भाग-II, खंड-3, उपखंड (ii) में प्रकाजित की गई थी, के माध्यम स,े
रेलर्व े अजधजियम, 1989 (1989 का 24) (जिसे आग े उक्त अजधजियम कहा गया ह)ै की धारा 20A की उपधारा (1) के
अंतगता , केंद्र सरकार ि े पजिम बंगाल राज्य के िार्िाललगं जिले म ें जर्विेष रेलर्वे पररयोििा, अथाात् जसर्वोक–रंगपो
(िई लाइि) के जिमााण, अिरु क्षण, प्रबंधि एर्वं संचालि हते ु उक्त अजधसूचिा की अिुसूची में र्वर्णात भूजम के अजधग्रहण का
अपिा आिय घोजषत ककया था।
और िहााँकक उक्त अजधसूचिा का सारांि उक्त अजधजियम की धारा 20A की उपधारा (4) के अंतगात िैजिक समाचार
पत्र “ि स्ट्टेट्समैि” कििांक 07 माचा 2026, “ििपथ समाचार” कििांक 07 माचा 2026 तथा “जहमालय िपाण” कििांक
07 माचा 2026 में प्रकाजित ककया गया था;
और िहााँकक सक्षम प्राजधकारी को ककसी भी व्यजक्त से कोई आपजत्त प्राप्त िहीं हुई ह;ै
और िहााँकक कोई आपजत्त याजचका प्राप्त िहीं हुई है, अतः उक्त अजधजियम की धारा 20E की उपधारा (1) के
अिुसरण म ेंसक्षम प्राजधकारी द्वारा केंद्र सरकार को प्रजतर्वेिि प्रस्ट्तुत करि े का प्रश्न उत्पन्न िहीं होता है;
अतः, अब उक्त अजधजियम की धारा 20E की उपधारा (1) द्वारा प्रित्त िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, केंद्र सरकार
एतद्द्वारा घोजषत करती ह ैकक िीचे िी गई अिुसूची में र्वर्णता भजू म उपयुाक्त उद्देश्य के जलए अजधग्रजहत की िाएगी;
5462 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
और आग,े उक्त अजधजियम की धारा 20E की उपधारा (2) के अिुसरण म,ें केंद्र सरकार एतद्द्वारा घोजषत करती ह ै कक
इस अजधसूचिा के रािपत्र में प्रकाजित होिे पर, िीचे िी गई अिुसूची में र्वर्णात भूजम सभी प्रकार के भारों एर्वं िार्वों से
मुक्त होकर पूणता ः केंद्र सरकार में जिजहत हो िाएगी।
अिसु चू ी
पजिम बगं ाल राज्य के िार्िला लगं जिल ेम ेंप्रस्ट्ताजर्वत जर्विषे रेलर्व ेपररयोििा जसर्वोक–रंगपो (िई लाइि) के अतं गता आि े
र्वाली, सरं चिा सजहत अथर्वा जबिा सरं चिा र्वाली अजधग्रजहत की िाि ेर्वाली भजू म का सजं क्षप्त जर्वर्वरण।
जिल ेका िाम – िार्िला लगं
क्र. स.ं थािा का ग्राम का िाम / सर्वेक्षण सं/प्लॉट स ं भूजम का भूजम का क्षेत्रफल क्षेत्रफल भूजम स्ट्र्वामीजहतबद्ध /
िामसंख्या/ संख्या ल.र. र.स. प्रकार प्रकृजत (हक्े टेयर म)े (एकर्) ब्यजक्त का िाम
(1) (2) (3) (4a) (4b) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
१ रंगली रोंगचोंग १२१ ७४ जििी सूखा खेत ०.२१८ ०.५४० सुश्री रूथकेलजमथ
रंगजलयोट खासमहल लेप्चा, श्री िीपक
सुब्बा एर्वं अन्य
२ रंगली रोंगचोंग १२३ ७९ जििी सूखा खेत ०.१२० ०.२९७
रंगजलयोट खासमहल —
३ रंगली रोंगचोंग १२९ ८७ जििी बंझो ०.०३८ ०.०९४
रंगजलयोट खासमहल
[फा. स.ं W/207/CON/Sivok-Rangpo/Land/160726]
संिीर्व कुमार, मुख्य अजभयंता
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
[Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction Organization)]
NOTIFICATION
Maligaon, the16th July, 2026
S.O. 3931(E).—Whereas by the notification of the Government of India, in the Ministry of Railways (Railway
Board), number S.O. 4578 (E) dated 07 October 2025 published in Gazette of India Extraordinary Part II, Section-3,
Sub section (ii) issued under sub-section (1) of section 20A of The Railways Act, (24 of 1989) (herein after referred
to as the said Act) , the Central Government has declared its intention to acquire the land specified in the Schedule
annexed to the said notification for execution, maintenance, management and operation of Special Railway Project,
namely, Sivok-Rangpo (New Line) in the District Darjeeling, in the State of West Bengal.
And whereas, the substance of the said notification was published in daily “The Statement” dated 07th March
2026, “Janpath Samachar” dated 07th March,2026 and “Himalaya Darpan” dated 07th March 2026 under sub-section
(4) of Section 20A of the said act;
And whereas no objection has been received from any person by the Competent Authority.
And whereas no objection petition has been received, question of submission of report by The Competent
Authority to Central Government in pursuance of sub section (1) of Section 20(E) of the said Act does not arise.
Now, in exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1) of Section20(E) of the said Act, the Central
Government hereby declares that the lands specified in the schedule below shall be acquired for the aforesaid purpose;
And further, in pursuance of sub section (2) of Section 20(E) of the said Act, the Central Government hereby
declares that on publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, the land specified in the Schedule below hereto
shall vest absolutely in the Central Government free from all encumbrances.[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
SCHEDULE
Brief description of the land to be acquired, with or without structure, falling within the proposed Special Railway
Project of Sivok-Rangpo (New Line) District-Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal.
Name of the District – Darjeeling
Sl. Name of Name of Survey Type of Nature of Area in Area Name of the
No Thana/No Mouza Number/Block Land Land Hect. in Land
Number Acre. Owner/Interest
L.R. R.S Person
(1) (2) (3) (4a) (4b) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
(1) Rangli Rongchong 121 74 Private Sukha khet 0.218 0.540 Ms Ruthkelmith
Rangliot Khasmahal Lepcha, Shri
Dipak Subbha
(2) Rangli Rongchong 123 79 Private Sukha khet 0.120 0.297
and Others.
Rangliot Khasmahal
(3) Rangli Rongchong 129 87 Private Banjho 0.038 0.094
Rangliot Khasmahal
[F. No. W/207/CON/Sivok-Rangpo/Land/160726]
SANJEEV KUMAR, Chief Engineer
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.