Lok Sabha Question No. 3910 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Policy for Allotment of Shops at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANTOSH KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3910 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## POLICY FOR ALLOTMENT OF SHOPS AT STATIONS

## 3910. SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways  has  any  systematic  policy  for  allotment  of commercial spaces/shops/food vendorship at Railway Stations;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  persons/  companies  who  have  illegally  occupied these spaces at the railway stations across the country for more than a decade, zone-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c): Yes, Madam. New Catering Policy issued on 27 th  February 2017 stipulates  that  Zonal  Railways  have  to  manage  minor  static  catering units i.e. catering stalls/milk stalls/ fruit juice stalls.  For the purpose of allotment detailed allotment procedure and eligibility criteria has been defined in the new  catering policy which inter-alia includes:(i) Allotments  of  General  Minor  Units  at  all  category  stations  to  be  done through  competitive open tendering system from the eligible bidders by divisions. (ii) For the first time, it has been envisaged that allotment of Special Minor units (reserved category) at all category stations will be done  by  divisions  through  open  tendering  system  within  the  similar reserved category. The technical eligibility criteria has been simplified.

Contd..2/-

(iii)  33  %  sub  quota  for  women  in  allotment  of  each  category  of  minor catering  units  at  all  category  of  station  to  be  provided.  (iv)  IRCTC  is responsible for management of food  plaza, food courts and fast food unit.

The  Indian  Railways  has  come  out  with  a  policy  on  'Out  of  Home Advertising'  wherein  advertising  assets  outside  the  station  area  are offered through a rights based approach for a tenure of 10 years.  Similarly, under  the  'Rail  Display  Network  Policy',  display  screens  inside  station premises with real time feeds for both railway and advertising content is offered for 10 years through optical transport network of Railtel.

Further,  for  the  purpose  of  STD/PCO,  the  maximum  size  of  5ftx6ft  is permissible in stations premises.  The booth holders are also permitted to install internet kiosk for which 10% space of the area are given extra on payment  of  additional  land  license  fee.    As  regards  ATMs  (Automated Teller  Machines),  space  of  6  sqm.  is    allotted  to  bank  for  installation  of ATMs.  For Internet Ticketing Kiosk, an additional space of 1.5 sqm is also provided.    No  additional  licence  fee  is  charged  for  this  additional  area above 6 sqm.  In addition, a space of around 6'x6' is provided for setting up V-Sat antennae of rooftop of station buildings for each ATM, for which no separate charges are levied.

Space in the form of Parking area is also allotted. The fixation of Reserve Price  is  based  on  a  number  of  factors  viz.  numbers  of  users,  type  of vehicles, parking charges prevailing at other locations in the area , Last Accepted Rate (LAR) etc.

(d):  At  Siliguri  station  over  Northeast  Frontier  Railway,  there  are  08 unauthorised commissioned vendors working since 1982.   The matter is subjudice.

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