Central Government Designates Competent Authorities for Railway Projects in Odisha

The Ministry of Railways (East Coast Railway (Construction)) issued a Notification, S.O. 270(E), on January 20, 2026, authorizing specific officials as Competent Authorities for special railway projects in the State of Odisha. This delegated legislation, published in the Official Gazette, came into force upon its publication. The notification was issued in exercise of powers conferred by Clause 7(A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989). As a piece of delegated legislation, this notification did not undergo legislative debates in Parliament or a State Legislature but rather implements powers granted by the parent Act. The primary purpose of this notification is to facilitate the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) at various locations by empowering local administrative officials to perform functions under the Railways Act, 1989, specifically for these designated projects.

The notification specifies that the Central Government has authorized the Tahasildar of Bhadrak, the Tahasildar of Bonth, and the Tahasildar of Bhandaripokhari to act as the Competent Authority. These officials are tasked with performing functions under the Railways Act, 1989, in respect of the areas pertaining to the identified Special Railway Projects. The projects include the construction of Road Over Bridges in lieu of closing manned Level Crossings (LCs) at specific kilometer points. For instance, the Tahasildar, Bhadrak, is designated for the construction of a Road Over Bridge in lieu of closing manned LC No. 120 at Km 296/23-25 between Baudpur (RDBR) and Kenduapada (KED) under the Khurda Road (KUR) Section. Similarly, the Tahasildar, Bonth, is authorized for two such projects: one for LC No. 123 at Km 304/15-17 between Manjuri Road (MZZ) and Baitarani Road (BTV), and another for LC No. 124 at Km 308/13-15 between Jenapur (JEN) and Newgarhmadhupur (NGMP). The Tahasildar, Bhandaripokhari, is designated for the construction of a Road Over Bridge in lieu of closing manned LC No. 129 at Km 315/41-316/1 between Newgarhmadhupur (NGMP) and Haridaspur (HDS). The legislation provided: “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.”

The legislative intent behind this notification is to streamline the implementation of critical railway infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency. The earlier legal position required specific authorization for officials to act as Competent Authorities under the Railways Act for new projects. This notification addresses the statutory gap by formally designating these authorities, thereby enabling the execution of the Road Over Bridge projects. The policy rationale is rooted in the need to eliminate manned level crossings, which are often points of congestion and safety hazards, by replacing them with Road Over Bridges. This measure is expected to improve the flow of both rail and road traffic, reduce accidents, and contribute to the overall modernization of railway infrastructure in Odisha. The notification introduces new obligations on the designated Tahasildars to perform functions as Competent Authorities, which typically involve land acquisition, dispute resolution, and other administrative tasks necessary for project execution under the Railways Act, 1989. This mechanism ensures that the development of these vital public infrastructure projects can proceed efficiently and within the established legal framework.

Keywords: Railways Act, Road Over Bridge, Competent Authority, Odisha, Ministry of Railways, Level Crossing, Infrastructure, Notification, Central Government
Geo Tags: India, Odisha
District: Not Applicable