Utilization of Surplus Railway Land

Indian Railways have approximately 10.65 lakh acre of land. About 90 per cent of this land is under Railway’s operational and allied usages. The total vacant land, at present is about 1.13 lakh acre.

In order to mobilize additional financial resources, Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has been set up by Railways through the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2005 to undertake commercial development of that vacant railway land and air-space which is not required by Railways for its immediate future operational needs. So far, 133 sites of such vacant land measuring 3744 acre have been entrusted to RLDA on various Zonal Railways for commercial development. RLDA has taken up studies for ascertaining revenue potential of these sites. Railways have also planned to utilize its 1.13 lakh acre vacant land, wherever feasible, for setting up of various infrastructural projects, which include Rail Coach and Component factories, Multi-Modal Logistic Parks, Auto hubs, Cold Storage & Perishable Cargo Centres, and others through innovative financing models in order to earn more revenue for the railways, create additional railway infrastructure, and also generate employment opportunities.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, Mr E. Ahamed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.