Why in News?

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Ministry of Railway’s proposal to revise the railways’ land policy to implement PM Gati Shakti framework (Cargo related activities, Public utilities & Railway’s exclusive use).

Impact:

• This will help in attracting more cargo to railways, increase railways’ modal share in freight transportation thereby reducing logistics cost of the industry.
• This will bring more revenue to railways.
• This will simplify approvals for utilities as envisaged in PM Gati Shakti Programme.
• This will help in development of public utilities like

• electricity, gas, water supply,
• telecom cable, sewage disposal,
• drains, optical fibre cables (OFC),
• pipelines, roads, flyovers,
• terminals, regional rail transport, urban transport etc.

• in an integrated manner.
• This policy amendment will  enable employment generation potential of about 1.2 lakh employment.

Benefits:

• This policy amendment will enable employment generation potential of about 1.2 lakh employment.

Financial Implications:

• No additional expenditure will incurr.
• Liberalizing the land leasing policy would open avenues for all stakeholders /service providers /operators to establish more cargo related facilities
• It will render their participation assisting in generation of additional cargo traffic and freight revenues to Railways.

Details:

• The revised railways’ land policy will enable integrated development of infrastructure and more cargo terminals.
• It provides for long term leasing of railway land for cargo related activities for a period up-to 35 years @ 1.5% of market value of  land per annum.
• The existing entities using railway land for cargo terminals will have the option to switch to the new policy regime after transparent and competitive bidding process.
• 300 PM Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals would be developed over next five years and about 1.2 lakh employment would be generated.
• This will increase modal share of rail in freight transportation and reduce overall logistics cost in the  country.
• For Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) and other smaller diameter underground utilities, a one-time fee of Rs. 1000/- will be charged for crossing railway track.
• The policy provides for use of railway land at nominal cost for setting up of solar plants on railway land.
• The policy also encourages development of social infrastructure on railway land at a nominal annual fee of Rupee 1 per sqm. per annum.

Implementation strategy and target:

• Comprehensive Policy document will be framed and implemented within 90 days of cabinet approval.
• The approvals for setting up utilities envisaged under PM Gati Shakti Programme will be simplified.
• 300 PM Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals would be developed over the next five years.