Indian Railways seeks quicker land acquisition for stalled projects

Zonal Railways asked to designate more works as special projects for quicker clearance

Slow pace of land acquisition for projects despite provisions for quicker clearance has put the Indian Railways in a spot.

The newly-formed Gati-Shakti division of the railways has raised the issue of general managers (GMs) of zonal railways stalling important infrastructure projects. This is being done by not designating projects involving land acquisition as special projects.

The national transporter has written to all its zonal railway divisions, asking them to strictly adhere to the special railway project (SRP) provision.

This allows GMs to designate projects as “special” and create a joint account for payment of land dues. Here, financial sanctions for land to state governments can happen expeditiously under the railway amendment Act.

“Several instances have come to the notice that railway infrastructure projects, where land acquisition is involved, are still not being declared ‘special’ by the zonal railways. This is causing delay in the land acquisition process,” the ministry had said in a letter to all zonal railways on November 25.

Experts said that the joint account provision for land dues reduces the possibility of blocking of funds. Several state governments in the past have delayed handover of land despite having received compensation from the Centre.

“We have raised this issue as there is a need to complete these projects timely, and land acquisition is often the biggest roadblock in that pursuit.

The entire power to designate projects rests solely with GMs. Therefore, there are no procedural obstacles stopping them from doing their job,” a senior official of the railways said.

According to government data, 285 important railway projects are currently pending, with many of them being stuck due to land acquisition.

Even flagship projects, such as dedicated freight corridors and high-speed rail (bullet train), have been stuck for years due to delayed handover of land.