Railway seeks Cabinet nod for expediting land lease process

Railways has sought the Cabinet’s generic approval to avoid delays in leasing out its own land for execution of core projects, after the Centre put a conditional ban on sale or lease of government land. “Large number of core railway projects are being held up due to government’s March 21 order as we are not being able to lease out land for execution of our core projects,” a senior Railway Ministry official said. The March 21 order requires Cabinet approval for sale or lease of any government land to private parties for any purpose. As a move to stem land scams, the government has ordered that henceforth, sale or lease of government land and premises would only happen after Union Cabinet approves it. [caption id="" align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Railways wants procedural delays to be done away with”][/caption] Many projects concerning passenger and freight service, which are the core business of Railways, are stuck due to the order, the official said. Projects like setting up of sidings along the track, catering kiosks at stations and laundry units at various places also have been delayed. The proposal for commercial utilisation of railway surplus land is also facing the same problem, the official said. Railways has sought the opinion of the Finance and Law ministries and the Department of Economic Affairs as part of the inter-ministerial consultation before sending it to the Cabinet. “The draft will go to the cabinet for its approval after the inter-ministerial consultation,” he said. . PTI