Lok Sabha Question No. 414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Widespread Encroachment of Railways Land
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 414

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## WIDESPREAD ENCROACHMENT OF RAILWAYS LAND

414.   DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  Sixteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Railways - on the Performance of Rail Land Development Authority -(2022-23) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is true that nearly 782.81 hectares of railway land is under encroachment across various zones and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has established a timeline for the removal of  all  encroachments,  excluding  in  those  cases  where  the  matter  is subjudice and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  collaborating  with  local  bodies  and authorities  to  combat  encroachment  of  railway  land,  especially  in metropolitan cities and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government has conducted-or is planning to conduct  any  surveys  by  field officers and  to set up a proper monitoring mechanism to check the working of these officers; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (F)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 414  BY  DR.  SHASHI  THAROOR  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.07.2024 REGARDING WIDESPREAD ENCROACHMENT OF RAILWAYS LAND

(a)  to  (d):      Standing  Committee  on  Railways  (2022-2023)  in  its Sixteenth Report on Performance of Rail Land development Authority has appreciated the fact that developmental activities by RLDA have picked up pace following the Covid-19 pandemic. Also, the number of commercial sites and colonies awarded to developers has shown a significant increase, and the revenue of RLDA (Rail Land Development Authority) was highly encouraging during 2019-20.

Recommendations  of  the  committee  accepted  by  Ministry  of Railways  includes  phased  approach  to  redevelopment  prioritising stations  based  on  factors  like  passenger  footfall,  connectivity  and strategic  importance;  focussing  on  development  and  monetising  its existing land bank, maximising the value of these assets; creation of centralised  database  to  store  land  records  in  a  digital  format;  to conduct  survey  by  field  officials  and  setting  up  proper  monitoring mechanism to check the working and outcome of field officers and surveys respectively, establishment of dispute resolution mechanism within the contracts by RLDA,etc.

As on 31.03.2022, a total of 782.81 hectare (0.16%) of Railway land was under encroachment in various parts of the country.

To increase the capacity, Indian Railways has taken up massive infrastructure  expansion  works  such  as  multitracking,  major  yard remodelling, maintenance facilities etc. Availability of encumbrance free     land   is   an   important   component   for   any infrastructure project. At many locations, railway land is encroached.

In order to get this land vacated, sufficient opportunity is given by railway administration to people occupying railway land unauthorisedly before undertaking any action for eviction to minimise the hardship to the people. Also,  railways  co-operate  with  State  Government  to  ensure proper resettlement of the displaced people. (e) & (f): A proper monitoring system is in place in Indian Railways to prevent  encroachment  on  Railway  land.  Field  officials  inspect  the section and areas prone to encroachment as per laid down schedule. The details of field surveys are recorded in encroachment registers which are maintained and regularly updated by field officers. Monthly reports  are  prepared  on  additions  and  removal  of  encroachments, filing eviction cases and their progress in court of Estate Officer, in Civil Courts etc.

******