Land Acquisition Gains Momentum in Nabarangpur Railway Project with Disbursement of Compensation to Affected Families

Nabarangpur, Mar, 24:  A compensation distribution program for land acquisition related to the Nabarangpur–Jeypore railway project was held today at the office of the Tahasildar, Nabarangpur.
On this occasion, Hon’ble Lok Sabha MP Balabhadra Majhi attended as the chief guest and distributed compensation cheques amounting to a total of ₹24,57,68,813 (Rupees Twenty-Four Crore Fifty-Seven Lakh Sixty-Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Thirteen) to eight persons who lost their land due to the acquisition.
Among the distinguished guests present were District Collector Dr. Maheshwar Swain, Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Biswajit Chandra Barman, and Sub-Collector Prakash Kumar Mishra. Tahasildar Bhuleswar Nayak welcomed the guests and conducted the program.
For this project, 6.393 acres of land from six villages (mouzas) under Nabarangpur and Nandahandi Tahasils have been acquired, while acquisition of an additional 0.588 acres is currently under process. In Kesriguda mouza under Nabarangpur Tahasil, 30.155 acres of land is under consideration with the Government of Odisha. The land acquisition process will begin there following further government instructions.
In his address, the Hon’ble MP stated that the Nabarangpur railway line, envisioned since 2016, has now entered a new phase with the distribution of land compensation. He described the event as a memorable moment in his life and said that the railway project would fulfill the long-standing demand and dream of the people of Nabarangpur district.
The District Collector, in his speech, acknowledged the contribution of those who lost their ancestral land for the project, stating that their sacrifice for the district’s development would always be remembered. He also informed that if anyone is dissatisfied with the compensation provided by the government, they may appeal to the higher authorities.
The proposed railway corridors — Junagarh–Nabarangpur, Nabarangpur–Jeypore, and Malkangiri–Bhadrachalam — spanning 460 km, constitute the second-largest railway project in independent India. The MP stated that once completed by 2029–30, the project would significantly boost the economic development of Nabarangpur district.
The program was attended by land-losers, senior advocate Jhadeshwar Khadanga, Jyoti Ranjan Kans, DIPRO Manoj Behera, BDO Sunil Khara, along with many farmers, intellectuals, local residents, Tahasil office staff, and media representatives.