Rajasthan college clears land for railways with 'Dayanand' rider

A three-year-long litigation holding up the railways' western dedicated freight corridor seems to have finally ended, with a Rajasthan college agreeing to withdraw a petition against land acquisition in exchange for an overbridge named after Arya Samaj founder Dayanand Saraswati.

The 400-metre-long stretch is required by the railways to build an approach road for a road overbridge, which is essential to the design of the ambitious freight corridor. The news comes as a huge relief for the railways, whose plans for a dedicated freight corridor without level crossings was being disrupted by this small stretch of land.

The condition to name the overbridge as 'Dayanand Setu' was conveyed to the state authorities by the Dayanad College (DAV College), Ajmer, last month.

In its letter to the district collector, the college has said it would provide the land for a 99-year lease in "public interest" for the bridge.

"The railway overbridge be named as Dayanand Setu in memory and respect of legendary personality Maharshi Dayanand," the letter said. "The college also undertakes to withdraw the writ petition pending in case the above conditions are satisfied."