<h1>State denies land acquisition for coal handling expansion; says 0.6 hectares for bank stabilization, road access, alignment fix</h1> The state government denied reports that additional land is being acquired to expand coal handling, stating limited acquisition of 0.6 hectares in three villages is for banking/stabilisation to protect houses, provide road access to landowners, and correct alignment mismatches identified in earlier surveys, per the rail development agency. The rail doubling project is described as enabling tourism and faster freight movement while reducing incidental pollution; the government reiterated no expansion of coal-transport capacity will be permitted. Opposition parties criticized the project as potentially increasing coal throughput and harming ecology and noted a former chief minister had opposed such double tracking on this stretch.