**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Railways issued a notification on April 13, 2026, designating a Competent Authority for a Special Railway Project in Odisha. Under the Railways Act, 1989, the Land Acquisition Officer of Cuttack is authorized to manage land acquisition for the 72 km expansion of the 3rd and 4th lines between Cuttack and Badabandha. This authorization is effective immediately from the date of the gazette publication.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Legal Framework and Authorization**
* The notification is issued under the powers conferred by Clause 7(A) of Section-2 of the Railways Act, 1989.
* The Central Government formally authorizes the designated officer to perform functions as the Competent Authority under the Act.
* The order is effective from April 13, 2026, the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
**Project Details**
* **Project Classification:** Defined as a "Special Railway Project."
* **Scope of Work:** Land acquisition for the construction of the 3rd and 4th railway lines.
* **Geographic Reach:** The project spans 72 km between Cuttack and Badabandha.
* **Jurisdiction:** Located within the State of Odisha.
**Designated Authority**
* **Appointed Officer:** Land acquisition officer, Cuttack.
* **Responsibility:** Authorized to perform the functions of the Competent Authority for the area specified within the Special Railway Project.
**Impact Analysis**
**Land Acquisition Officer, Cuttack**
**Impact**
The officer is legally empowered as the "Competent Authority" to exercise powers under the Railways Act, 1989, specifically for the Cuttack-Badabandha rail expansion.
**Action Required**
The officer must assume the duties and functions required to facilitate land acquisition for the 72 km stretch of the 3rd and 4th railway lines.
**Ministry of Railways / East Coast Railway (Construction)**
**Impact**
The Ministry establishes the legal administrative framework necessary to proceed with the Special Railway Project in the Odisha region.
**Action Required**
Coordinate with the newly authorized Competent Authority in Cuttack to execute the land acquisition phase of the project.
**Landowners and Local Residents in the Project Area**
**Impact**
Properties located within the 72 km corridor between Cuttack and Badabandha are now subject to the land acquisition processes managed by the designated Competent Authority.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders in the project area must engage with the Land Acquisition Officer, Cuttack, for all matters regarding land valuation, claims, or acquisition procedures related to the 3rd and 4th line project.
Key Entities Referenced
Railways Act, 1989: The primary legislation (specifically Section 2, Clause 7(A)) under which the Central Government authorizes land acquisition and designates special railway projects.
3rd & 4th line between Cuttack-Badabandha: The specific special railway project involving the construction of additional tracks over a 72km stretch, for which this notification is issued.
Land acquisition officer, Cuttack: The official authorized as the Competent Authority to perform functions related to land acquisition for the specified railway project.
Ministry of Railways: The primary central ministry, acting through the East Coast Railway (Construction), responsible for overseeing the project.
Cuttack-Badabandha, Odisha: The central geographic location and state where the project is situated and the land acquisition authorities are applicable.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-ओ.आर.-अ.-15042026-271793
CG-OxRxx-GEI-D1H50xx4x2 026-271793
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 1810] िई ददलली, सोमर्ार, अप्रलै 13, 2026/चत्रै 23, 1948
No. 1810] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026/CHAITRA 23, 1948
रेल मत्रं ालय
[पर्ू वतट रेलर् े(जिमाणव )]
अजधसचू िा
भुर्िेश्वर, 13 अप्रलै , 2026
का.आ. 1879(अ).—केंद्र सरकार, रेल अजधजियम, 1989 (1989 का 24 ) की धारा 2 के खंड 7 (क), द्वारा
प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, सरकारी रािपत्र में इस अजधसूचिा के प्रकािि की तारीख स,े
ओजडिा राज्य में एतद्वारा िीचे दी गई ताजलका के मद स.ं 2 में र्र्णवत अजधकारी को मद सं. 3 में उजललजखत जर्िेष रेल
पररयोििा के क्षत्रे से संबंजधत, इस तरह के कायव करिे के जलए, सक्षम प्राजधकारी के रूप में अजधकृत करती ह।ै
2659 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
सारणी
जर्िषे रेल पररयोििा
क्रम राज्य / संघ
पररयोििा का िाम
संख्या राज्य क्षेत्र
(1) (2) (3)
1. कटक-बडाबन्धा के बीच तीसरी और चौथी लाइन (72 ककमी) के ललए भूलम अलधग्रहण ओज़ििा
हते ु कटक के भूलम अलधग्रहण अलधकारी स े लनवेदन ह।ै
[फा. सं. ईस्ट कोस्ट रेलवे/सीई/कॉन/III/बीबीएस/एलए/तीसरी और चौथी लाइन कटक- बडाबन्धा]
सुधीर कुमार पररदा, मुख्य अजभयन्ता, (जिमावण-III)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
[East Coast Railway (Construction)]
NOTIFICATION
Bhubaneswar, the 13th April, 2026
S.O. 1879(E).—In exercise of the powers, conferred by Clause 7(A) of Section-2 of the Railways Act,
1989(24 of 1989) the Central Government hereby authorize the officer mentioned in column (2) of the Table below
as the Competent Authority to perform the function of such authority under said Act in respect of area of the Special
Railway Project mentioned in column (3) of the Table below in the state of Odisha with effect from the date of
publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.
TABLE
Sl. No. Name of the Project State/UT
(1) (2) (3)
1 Land acquisition officer, Cuttack for Land acquisition of “3rd & 4th line between Odisha
Cuttack-Badabandha (72Km)”.
[F. No. ECoR/CE/CON/III/BBS/LA/3rd & 4th line CTC-BDBA]
SUDHIR KUMAR PARIDA, Chief Engineer (Con-III)
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.