**Policy Summary: Utilisation of Land Available with Railways**
This document summarizes the Indian Railway's land holdings, land utilization, revenue generation from commercial use, and plans for social/sports purposes as of July 30, 2025.
**Land Holdings and Utilisation:**
* Indian Railways owns approximately 4.90 lakh hectares of land.
* Approximately 0.22 hectare of railway land is under encroachment.
* Approximately 1.4930 hectare of railway land is used for commercial purposes, including land entrusted to the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA).
**Revenue Generation from Commercial Use of Land:**
The following table details the revenue generated (in crores INR) by the Railways from the commercial use of land and spaces since 2014:
| Financial Year | Revenue Generated (in crores INR) |
| :-------------: | :-------------------------------: |
| 2014-15 | 1056.62 |
| 2015-16 | 1410.66 |
| 2016-17 | 1515.97 |
| 2017-18 | 3833.88 |
| 2018-19 | 1438.90 |
| 2019-20 | 2104.44 |
| 2020-21 | 1733.24 |
| 2021-22 | 1745.56 |
| 2022-23 | 2379.66 |
| 2023-24 | 2699.87 |
| 2024-25 | 3129.49 |
**Plans for Social/Sports Purposes:**
* Indian Railways permits the use of its land for social infrastructure projects like hospitals and Kendriya Vidyalayas for up to 60 years at a rate of Re 1 per sqm per annum.
* Temporary licensing of railway land is permitted for cultural and sports activities for up to 4 months.
* Indian Railways has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sports Authority of India for developing sports facilities, exemplified by the project at Cooch Bihar.
**Contact Information:**
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the country's rail transport.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: Member of Parliament who raised the question in Lok Sabha.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, who provided the answer.
Indian Railway: The state-owned railway company of India.
RLDA: Railway Land Development Authority, an organization entrusted with railway land for commercial utilization.
Sports Authority of India: The apex national sports body of India, established by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Cooch Bihar, West Bengal: A city and district in the state of West Bengal, India, where sports facilities are planned for development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1749
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
UTILISATION OF LAND AVAILABLE WITH RAILWAY
1749. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK :
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the total land available with the Railways along
with the details of land under encroachment and land used for
commercial purposes;
(b) the details of the revenue generated by the Railways form the
use of land and spaces for commercial purposes since 2014,
year-wise;
(c) whether the Government has any plans for making unused
railway land available for social/sports purposes; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHLOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d) A total of about 4.90 lakh hectare of land is owned by
Indian Railway out of which about 0.22% (1078 hectare) of railway
land is under encroachment and about 1 % (4930 hectare) railway
land is under utilization for commercial purposes including land
entrusted to RLDA for commercial utilisation.
--2/--2-
Year-wise details of the revenue generated by the Railways from
the use of land and spaces for commercial purposes since 2014
are as under:
Financial Year Revenue Generated (in crores)
2014-15 1056.62
2015-16 1410.66
2016-17 1515.97
2017-18 3833.88
2018-19 1438.90
2019-20 2104.44
2020-21 1733.24
2021-22 1745.56
2022-23 2379.66
2023-24 2699.87
2024-25 3129.49
As per extant policies, Indian Railways permit use of its land for
social infrastructure like hospitals, Kendriya Vidyalayas for period
up to 60 years @ Re 1 per sqm per annum. The temporary licensing
of railway land for cultural and sports activities is permitted for a
period up to 4 months. Indian Railways has also entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding with Sports Authority of India for
development of sports facilities at Cooch Bihar.
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