LOD Orders Immediate Clearance of Land and Utility Issues for Bridge Projects

The Secretary of the Lok Nirman Department, Mukesh Kumar Bansal, issued a decisive order on 8 July 2026 to clear all land‑acquisition and utility‑relocation bottlenecks obstructing railway over‑bridge (ROB) and under‑bridge (RUB) projects in Chhattisgarh.

During a joint session with senior officials of the department’s Bridge Section and the South‑East‑Central Railway, Bansal highlighted that unresolved encroachments, pending land‑revenue formalities, and delayed utility shifting have been major contributors to project hold‑ups.

He mandated the immediate removal of unauthorized structures, rapid processing of land acquisition documents, and swift execution of title transfers. The Secretary also directed that land‑revenue and land‑acquisition teams work in tandem with railway engineers to meet defined deadlines.

Utility shifting was singled out as a critical path activity; the Secretary ordered that all utility relocation tasks be completed ahead of civil construction to prevent further delays. Joint inspections between LOD and railway engineers were instructed wherever drawing revisions or design approvals are pending.

A robust monitoring schedule was established, requiring a three‑monthly review meeting between the two agencies. The purpose is to assess progress, resolve pending matters promptly, and keep the bridge construction timeline on schedule.

Successful execution of these directives is expected to de‑congest major highways, eliminate safety hazards at railway crossings, and streamline freight movement throughout the state.