‘Serious Problem’: Ashwini Vaishnaw reveals 1,068 Hectares of Railway Land Under Illegal Occupation

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reveals the latest data on Indian Railways' land assets and the government's high-tech crackdown on illegal encroachment. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Vaishnaw informed the House that approximately 1,068 hectares of railway land—roughly 0.21% of the total 4.99 lakh hectares—is currently under encroachment.The Minister detailed how the Ministry of Railways is deploying cutting-edge AI, drone surveys, and satellite imagery to monitor land boundaries in real-time. By comparing these maps with digital reference records, authorities can now identify and stop fresh encroachments almost instantly.Vaishnaw also highlighted a "humanitarian approach" to land clearance, citing the Surat model where encroachers were provided housing under the PM Awas Yojana. With the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) shifting to a transparent tendering process, the Railways expects to generate ₹900 crore in revenue this fiscal year.