DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Ministry of Railways has completed the land acquisition for the 84-km Manikpur-Iradatganj third railway line under the North Central Railway, according to the final Gazette notification issued on Wednesday.
With the issuance of the notification, the acquisition of 3,66,877 square metres, or around 36.68 hectares, of land in Prayagraj has been completed. The acquired land has been transferred to the Central government and is now free from legal disputes and other hurdles.
The 84-km Manikpur-Iradatganj third-line project has an estimated cost of around Rs 1,640 crore and is targeted for completion within four years. Once completed, the additional railway line is expected to significantly increase the capacity of the route and allow more trains to operate.
Indian Railways had invited objections for the acquisition of around 50.19 hectares of land spread across 25 villages in the Bara and Karchhana sub-districts of Prayagraj.
The weekly brief metro & rail professionals read.
Following the objections raised by farmers and other landowners, the authorities carried out 24 rounds of measurements and reviewed the land requirement. After the process, the total land requirement was revised downward to 36.68 hectares.
The project will involve the construction of 30 major railway bridges, 19 underpasses and six road overbridges. The third line will also connect 12 railway stations located along the route.
The completion of the land acquisition process is expected to allow the Indian Railways to move ahead with the project without further delays related to land availability and ensure a smoother journey for passengers travelling on the Prayagraj-Mumbai rail route.
The existing double-line section between Iradatganj and Manikpur is operating at more than 150% of its capacity. The high traffic load frequently results in trains being held at outer signals, causing delays to both passenger and freight services.
The final notification has also paved the way for payment of compensation to farmers and landowners whose land has been acquired for the project.
The NCR chief public relations officer Shivam Sharma said the project would now gain momentum following the completion of the land acquisition process.
“Once completed, the additional line will enhance route capacity, reduce congestion and improve train punctuality on the crucial Prayagraj-Mumbai corridor, benefiting thousands of passengers every day,” Sharma said.
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