Feeling the toxic effects of the Adarsh land scam, the Railway Ministry now wants an official ‘licence' to license its own land.

For six months now, following a diktat from the Cabinet Secretariat, Indian Railways has been unable to provide land on long-term lease to its users seeking last mile rail links.

There are thousands of pending proposals from public and private sector agencies across sectors including coal, steel, mining, cement, fertiliser, ports and container train operators.

With lack of clarity even on whether Railways can provide a “licence to use its land”, the Railway Ministry has now decided to seek a Cabinet decision on the issue.

The number of proposals stuck due to this runs into thousands, officials told Business Line , citing anecdotal evidence.

INVESTMENTS HIT

For the Railway Ministry, which has been wooing investment in terminals and tracks from its users, this could not have come at a worse time. In fact, in many of its earlier policies for inviting investments, the Railways has committed that it will provide access to the rail network.

All users need to access the railway land to connect to their terminals, depots or port terminals to the Indian Railway network. “We just cannot connect any facility without getting the rights to use some portion of rail land,” said one of the affected parties from a Government agency.

Even the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is feeling the heat. “If there is a rail track running across a highway development path, then a rail over bridge has to be built. To support the bridge, pillars have to be erected on rail land,” explained an official.

CABINET DECISION

In March, following a series of scams involving sale of Government land, the Cabinet Secretariat had asked all Ministries to seek specific approval of the Cabinet in every case of sale or long-term lease of land belonging to the Government or Government controlled statutory authorities. This method is to be followed till the Government forms a policy on the issue.

> mamuni@thehindu.co.in

comment COMMENT NOW