More than 1,000 hectares of Indian Railways land remain under illegal occupation across the country, highlighting the growing challenge of protecting public property. Data released by the Railway Board in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application revealed that, as of March 2025, approximately 1,068.54 hectares of railway land were encroached upon.
The figures indicate that the problem has worsened significantly over the past five years. In 2020-21, around 810.31 hectares of railway land were under encroachment. Although the number dipped slightly to 782.81 hectares in 2021-22, it began rising again in subsequent years. By 2023-24, the total had crossed the 1,000-hectare mark, reaching 1,078.55 hectares, before declining marginally to 1,068.54 hectares in 2024-25.
According to government records, Indian Railways owned nearly 4.99 lakh hectares of land as of April 1, 2024. While the encroached land accounts for only 0.21 percent of its total landholding, the area is substantial in absolute terms. It is large enough to accommodate around 42 Narendra Modi Stadiums, each spread over approximately 25.5 hectares.
The data also reveals that eviction efforts have made only limited progress. During the last five years, authorities succeeded in reclaiming just 98.02 hectares of illegally occupied railway land. The statistics underscore the difficulties involved in removing encroachments, which often involve lengthy legal procedures, rehabilitation concerns, and administrative challenges.
The findings have renewed attention on the need for stronger land management, improved monitoring, and faster enforcement to safeguard valuable public assets across India's railway network.
