It is a quiet Sunday morning in a village. Farmers are preparing their fields for the next crop, children are playing near the village pond and life is moving at its usual pace. By afternoon, a rumour begins to spread: government officials have been seen inspecting land on the outskirts of the village. Someone says...
In a major push toward digital-first governance and infrastructure modernization, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw officially announced the launch of the Rail Bhoomi Portal on July 14, 2026. Rolled out as part of the Ministry’s ambitious reforms to accelerate project timelines, this comprehensive web-based platform is set to completely digitize and streamline the long-delayed, paper-heavy...
On 11 July 2026, West Bengal announced a significant shift in its industrial land policy with the introduction of a Direct Land Purchase Policy, signalling a move away from compulsory land acquisition for industrial projects. Announcing the policy, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that the government “does not want another Nandigram or Singur,” referring to...
India’s infrastructure growth story is entering a new era. From industrial corridors and renewable energy parks to mining, highways, railways, ports, urban expansion, and manufacturing hubs, development is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. While engineering excellence often takes center stage, the true success of any infrastructure project begins much earlier with land acquisition, stakeholder engagement,...
A significant ruling for infrastructure and public-purpose land acquisition across India In a judgment with far-reaching implications for infrastructure development, the Allahabad High Court has clarified that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 does not stand in the way of the State acquiring religious properties for genuine public purposes. The Case The ruling...
India is witnessing an unprecedented wave of infrastructure and industrial development. Mega projects in renewable energy, mining, transportation, manufacturing, urban expansion and logistics are reshaping the nation’s economic landscape. At the heart of every successful project lies one critical element land acquisition. Yet, land acquisition today is far more than a legal or administrative process....
BHUBANESWAR: In a strategic move to boost Odisha’s primary economic engine, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has sought enhanced support from the Central government to accelerate mining-led growth, eliminate regulatory bottlenecks, and scale up infrastructure across the state. The demands were formally placed before the Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, during...
Introduction When the state compulsorily acquires a citizen’s land, the question of fair compensation becomes not merely an administrative matter but a constitutional imperative. The stakes are especially high when the land in question carries a distinctive character say, an active industrial site but the authorities reach for an entirely different metric, such as a...
In a decisive move to streamline land administration and protect the rights of landowners, the Odisha Government’s Revenue and Disaster Management Department has issued a mandatory directive to all District Collectors: clear every single pending case of land revenue abatement and Record of Rights (RoR) amendment by May 30, 2026. This initiative, spearheaded by the...
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that land acquisition cases prior to 2018 under the NHAI Act can not be reopened to grant additional compensation with interest to affected farmers. This oral observation came during a review plea hearing by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Court Background A bench led by Chief...
