Lok Sabha Question No. 3074 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-11
Subject: Slum Settlements along Railway Tracks
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3074

TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 11, 2019

## SLUM SETTLEMENTS ALONG RAILWAY TRACKS

No. 3074.  SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  HOUSING  AND  URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the existence of slum settlements in a linear pattern along railway tracks and the threat  it  poses  for  occurrence  of  accidents  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (b) the corrective measures taken by the Government for their evacuation and rehabilitation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- (a):   The Government of India is aware of the existence of slum settlements  along  the  railway  tracks.  The  Ministry  of  Railways (MoR)  has  reported  that  these  encroachments  on  railway  land adjacent to railway tracks cause bottlenecks in train operation & track  maintenance  and  thus  affect  the  safety  of  trains  and passengers. The encroachments near the railway track are also a safety hazard to encroachers. As per train accident data available for the last 5 years, no consequential train accident has occurred on account of encroachment on Railway land as per the findings of  the  inquiry  conducted  therein.  However,  no  specific  data related  to  accidents  involving  encroachers  is  maintained  by Railways.

The  MoR  has  also  reported  that  Railways  carry  out  regular surveys  and  take  action  for  removal  of  encroachment  in  zonal railways.  If  the  encroachments  are  of  temporary  nature  (soft encroachment) in the shape of jhuggies, jhopries, squatters, the same is got removed in consultation and with the assistance of Railway  Protection  Force  and  local  civil  authorities.  For  old encroachments,  where  party  is  not  amenable  to  persuasion, action  is  taken  under  Public  Premises  (Eviction  of  Unauthorized of unauthorized  occupants  is  carried  out  with  the  assistance  of

Occupation) Act, 1971 (PPE Act, 1971). Actual eviction State Government and police.

(b):  Housing  being  a  State  subject,  the  MoR  has  stated  that  the State  Government/  Urban  Local  Body  may  include  slums  on Railway Land in their plan for rehabilitation/ resettlement of slum dwellers  of  a  city.    The  MoR  has  also  added  that  entire  cost  of such  rehabilitation/resettlement  may  also  be  borne  by  State Government or Urban Local Body as Railways may not be able to contribute towards cost of land or rehabilitation/resettlement.

Further,  in  order  to  proactively  address  the  housing requirement of eligible urban households including slum dwellers the  Government  of  India  through  the  Ministry  of  Housing  and Urban  Affairs  (MoHUA)  has  launched  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas Yojana  (Urban)  {PMAY(U)}  Mission  on  June  25,  2015  to  assist States/  Union  Territories  (UTs)  both  financially  and  technically. The PMAY(U) scheme guidelines advocate that Central Government land owning agencies should also undertake 'in-situ' slum redevelopment in their lands occupied by slums by using it as a resource for providing houses to slum dwellers.

Pursuant to the issuance of the scheme guidelines, the Central Government  land  owning  Ministries/Departments  to  explore  the possibilities  of  rehabilitation  of  slums  on  their  land  and  seek

MoHUA  has  written to all State Governments and Central Assistance from the MoHUA under the PMAY(U) Mission.

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