Parliament Question: Encroachment of Metro Railway Land in Kolkata

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 818 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026 ENCROACHMENT OF METRO RAILWAY LAND IN KOLKATA

818. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that land belonging to Metro Railway near Masterda Surya Sen Metro Station (Bansdroni), Kolkata, has been used as an unauthorised bus stand/informal bike-parking area by unauthorised vendors for several years and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether such unauthorised occupation of Metro Railway land has continued for nearly fifteen years and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for prolonged inaction despite the land being owned by Metro Railway;

(c) the total area in square metres or acres of land encroached upon in and around Masterda Surya Sen Metro Station;

(d) whether any survey/notice/eviction drive has been conducted to remove such encroachments and if so, the details and the present status thereof; and

(e) the details of other locations in Kolkata where Metro Railway land is under unauthorised occupation along with time-bound steps proposed to remove such encroachments, Station and corridor-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): For operational purpose, Kolkata Metro Railway required about 1420 sqm of land near Masterda Surya Sen metro station.

Compensation for this land is required to be paid to seven numbers ofclaimants. Out of seven, the compensation has been disbursed to six claimants proportionately. Last and seventh claimant has approached the Court of the Competent Authority under the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 and matter is subjudice. Presently land is not in Railways possession as the land being acquired is an undivided property. Only after reimbursement of full compensation to all the owners, the land will be taken into Railways possession.

(e): Total area of about 1,590 sqm of land of Metro Railway is under unauthorized occupation. Eviction drives are regularly being launched and is continuous process for removing encroachments. In case of encroachments of temporary nature (soft encroachments) in the shape of jhuggies, jhopris and squatters, the same are removed in consultation and with the assistance of Railway Protection Force and local civil authorities. For old encroachments which are in the form of pucca structures (hard encroachment), where party is not amenable to persuasion, action is taken under Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 (PPE Act, 1971), as amended from time to time. Actual eviction of unauthorized occupants is carried out with the assistance of State Government and local administration/police.

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