Railways unable to reclaim own land

NEW DELHI: The problems for the Indian Railways has been increasing in the Capital as 40 hectares of railway land have been illegally occupied by small time businessmen and slum dwellers in the past two decades.

Northern Railway officials said that more than 27,000 people have been illegally occupying the land for more then three decades. “They have disrupted train routes and increased chances of accidents on the railway tracks,” said an NR official, adding that there is no fencing done on the railway tracks and there have been accidents.

Even after repeated efforts by the railway to remove them, the authorities have not yet made much progress. “We had deposited Rs 11 crore in 1998 for rehabilitation of these people but we have not been able to vacate them,” said the official.

“We have also spoken to the Delhi government and municipal authorities but they have also failed to get the land vacated from the occupants,” added the officer.  

These occupants also get support from the local political parties as they act as vote banks. The courts had favoured rehabilitation of the inhabitants before 1998.

“We have deposited our share of the amount asked by the court but the state has neither identified alternate land for their rehabilitation nor have they deposited their share of money,” said the official.