Question : RAILWAY LAND ON LEASE

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI K. H. MUNIYAPPA)

(a) & (b): Railways do not maintain data State-wise. The state of Tamilnadu is covered by Southern and South Western Railway. Areas of land leased, under encroachment and presently lying vacant on these railways are as under:

Railway	Land leased/licensed	Land under encroachment	Vacant land	(in acre)	(in acre)	(in acre)
Southern	753	155	5673
South Western	128	40.27	2255

Annual revenue generated through leasing/licensing on Southern and South Western Railways during 2009-10 has been Rs.77.7 crore & Rs. 47.6 crore, respectively.

Vacant/unutilized land is required for railways own developmental works such as doubling, gauge conversion, yard remodeling and traffic facility works, servicing the track & structures as well as development of various infrastructural works in addition to commercial development wherever feasible.

As regards encroachments, Railways are engaged in a continuous exercise to remove encroachments and safeguard its land boundaries. Removal of encroachments is taken up as per provisions of Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971.