**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided by the Minister of Railways to the Lok Sabha on 04.02.2026 regarding encroachment of Metro Railway land in Kolkata. It addresses unauthorized land use near Masterda Surya Sen Metro Station and other locations. The document details the status of land acquisition and the measures taken for eviction.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Land Acquisition Near Masterda Surya Sen Metro Station:**
* The Kolkata Metro Railway requires approximately 1420 sqm of land near Masterda Surya Sen metro station for operational purposes.
* Compensation is due to seven claimants.
* Compensation has been disbursed to six of the seven claimants.
* One claimant has approached the Court of the Competent Authority under the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978, making the matter sub judice.
* The land is not currently in Railways' possession because it is undivided property, with possession to follow after full compensation reimbursement to all owners.
* **Unauthorized Occupation & Eviction:**
* Approximately 1,590 sqm of Metro Railway land is under unauthorized occupation.
* Eviction drives are regularly launched as a continuous process.
* Soft encroachments (jhuggies, jhopris, squatters) are removed in consultation with the Railway Protection Force and local authorities.
* Hard encroachments (pucca structures) are addressed under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 (PPE Act, 1971).
* Actual eviction is carried out with the assistance of the State Government and local administration/police.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Kolkata Metro Railway**
* **Impact:** The Kolkata Metro Railway needs 1420 sqms of land for operation near Masterda Surya Sen Station. Metro Railway land is under unauthorized occupation.
* **Action Required:** Continue eviction drives to remove unauthorized occupants and pursue full compensation reimbursement to gain land possession.
**Stakeholder: Land Claimants**
* **Impact:** Seven claimants are entitled to compensation for the land required for metro operations, impacting their financial status and property rights.
* **Action Required:** One claimant must resolve the sub judice matter in court to receive compensation.
**Stakeholder: Unauthorized Occupants**
* **Impact:** They are subject to eviction from Metro Railway land.
* **Action Required:** Vacate the land, possibly under legal eviction processes according to the type of encroachment.
**Stakeholder: State Government and Local Administration/Police**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for assisting in the eviction of unauthorized occupants from Metro Railway land.
* **Action Required:** Provide support and resources for eviction drives.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: Primary subject of the question; deals with railway land encroachment issues.
Kolkata: Location where the metro railway land encroachment issue is occurring.
Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978: Referenced law under which land acquisition matters are being handled.
Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 (PPE Act, 1971): Referenced Act used for eviction of unauthorized occupants.
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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