Railways for a Comprehensive Policy to Tap Latent Advertising Potential

The Union Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has said that encroachment on the Railway Land is a serious issue and to counter this, digitized mapping of land records has been initiated and responsibility will be fixed on officials for any encroachments. Presenting Railway Budget for 2015-16 in Parliament today he dwelt upon the resource mobilization by Railways.

 He informed the members that Railways is drawing up a comprehensive policy to tap the latent advertising potential. The new strategy would harness all avenues including offering stations and trains for corporate branding. It is launching a Coastal Connectivity Program this year where Railways in partnership with the concerned ports will deliver rail connectivity to Nargol, Chharra, Dighi, Rewas and Tuna. This programme is expected to mobilize investments of approximately ₹ 2000 crore. It proposes to launch projects worth ₹ 2500 crore through BOT/ Annuity route. These include Wardha- Nagpur 3rd line, Kazipet-Vijaywada 3rd line, Bhadrak -Nargundi 3rd line and Bhuj- Nalia Gauge Conversion.

 The Minister also informed that a Scrap disposal policy of the Indian Railways will be reviewed for speedier scrap disposal.

Digitized land records to counter encroachment strengthen official accountability and support rail property protection and management. Introduction of land record digitization with administrative responsibility for encroachments aims to prevent unauthorized occupation of railway land, clarify boundaries, and enable enforceable administrative action. Complementary measures include a comprehensive advertising policy to monetise stations and trains, a Coastal Connectivity Program in partnership with ports to extend rail links, capital projects via BOT/annuity routes, and a review of the scrap disposal policy to expedite disposals.