Lok Sabha Question No. 3524 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: National Monetization Plan
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3524 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2023

## NATIONAL MONETIZATION PLAN

## 3524.   SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total surplus land with the Indian Railways as on date, State/UTwise especially in the State of Punjab;
- (b) whether  the  Railways  is  planning  several  Real  Estate  Investment Trusts (REITs) as part of its asset monetization drive;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State/UT-wise  especially  in  the  State  of Punjab along with the reasons therefor ;
- (d) whether the Railways is lagging behind its target under the National Monetization Plan(NMP) for the last two years; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e) :  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3524 BY SHRI  RAVNEET SINGH BITTU TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  22.03.2023  REGARDING NATIONAL MONETIZATION PLAN

(a):    Indian  Railways  has  about  0.62  lakh  hectares  of  vacant  land which also includes the vacant railway land in the State of Punjab. State-wise  data  of  surplus  land  is  not  maintained.    Most  of  this vacant    land    is  lying  along  tracks  and  is  required  for  Railways' operational  needs.  Zone-wise  details  of  vacant  Railway  land  is  as under:-

(Figures in Hectares)

| Zonal Railway      |   Vacant railway 31.03.2022(Approx.) | Land   | as   | on   |
|--------------------|--------------------------------------|--------|------|------|
| Central            |                              1670.2  |        |      |      |
| Eastern            |                              2014.23 |        |      |      |
| East Central       |                              4418.67 |        |      |      |
| East Coast         |                              2221.22 |        |      |      |
| Northern           |                             11043.7  |        |      |      |
| North Central      |                               993.12 |        |      |      |
| North Eastern      |                              5521.01 |        |      |      |
| Northeast Frontier |                             13305.9  |        |      |      |
| North Western      |                              1298.62 |        |      |      |
| Southern           |                              2493.79 |        |      |      |
| South Central      |                               924.97 |        |      |      |

| South Eastern     |   306.22 |
|-------------------|----------|
| Southeast Central |  3419.16 |
| South Western     |  4888.69 |
| Western           |  6348.61 |
| West Central      |   629.5  |
| Metro             |     0.11 |
| Production Units  |   570.42 |
| Total             | 62068.2  |

(b):  No, Sir.

(c) : Does not arise.

(d) & (e):  Ministry of Railways (MOR) is making efforts to monetize the  assets  identified  by  Niti  Aayog  under  National  Monetization Pipeline (NMP).  The realization of revenues from monetization has not  been  commensurate  with  the  target  in  the  current  and  last Financial Years.

In  view  of  substantial  revenue  generation  potential,  Ministry  of Railways  (MOR)  has  decided  to  develop  the  railway  stations  on 'Engineering,  Procurement  &  Construction(EPC)  Mode'  in  initial phase and subsequently monetize adjoining land parcels as 'Station Estates'.

Operation of passenger trains by private parties has not been found competitive  in  view  of  the  passenger  subsidies  by  Government  of India (GOI) and therefore proposal has been dropped.  Monetization of  Overhead  Equipment  (OHE)  &  Track  has  not  been  found  as economical/feasible. Monetization of Dedicated Freight

Corridor(DFC)  has  been  planned  to  be    undertaken  after  start  of operations  with  visible  and  stabilized  revenue  stream.    Ministry  of Railways  (MOR)  has  already  exceeded  the  monetization  target  for Railway Colonies and Non-core land parcels under National Monetization Pipeline (NMP) and actual realization from monetization of Goods Shed is likely to exceed the target. *****