Centre Authorizes Officials for Sabarmati – Dholera – Lothal Railway Projects in Gujarat

NEW DELHI: The Central Government has issued two Gazette notifications authorising designated district-level officers as “Competent Authorities” for land acquisition and related statutory processes for two major Special Railway Projects in Gujarat under the Western Railway’s Bhavnagar Division.

According to Notification S.O. 5597(E), the government has empowered the Prant Officer, West-Ahmedabad as the Competent Authority for the doubling of the Sabarmati D Cabin–Sarkhej railway section, a 21-kilometre project located in Ahmedabad district’s Sabarmati and Vejalpur talukas. The authorisation enables the official to execute functions required for the project’s implementation, management, and operation.

In a separate notification, S.O. 5598(E), the Centre has granted similar authority for the new broad-gauge double line between Sarkhej and Dholera, spanning 109.16 km, along with a 20.40 km spur line that will connect the upcoming Lothal National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) and the Dholera International Airport. For this project, the Prant Officer, West-Ahmedabad will oversee work in Vejalpur, while the Prant Officer, Dhandhuka will act as Competent Authority for Dholera in Ahmedabad district.

Both notifications, issued by the Ministry of Railways (Western Railway – Construction Organisation), take effect from the date of their publication in the Gazette and are aimed at ensuring smooth execution, maintenance, and public-purpose administration of these strategic infrastructure projects.

Officials stated that the authorisations will facilitate timely land acquisition and clearances, enabling faster progress on projects considered crucial to enhancing rail connectivity to fast-developing hubs like Dholera SIR and nationally important sites like Lothal NMHC.