Railways conduct the audit of its land every year by way of verifying land records. As on 31st March 2014, the total land available with the Railways is 458589 hectare out of which 412180 hectare is utilized for Railways' operational purposes and allied usages, leaving 46409 hectare as vacant land. The vacant Railway land is mostly in the form of narrow strips along tracks, which is required for servicing and maintenance of track, bridges and other infrastructure. The vacant railway land is also utilized for execution of various infrastructural projects for meeting future growth needs of Railways and includes projects like doubling/tripling and traffic facilities works, etc. The vacant land which is not required by Railways for its immediate operational needs, is utilized for commercial development through Rail Land Development Authority wherever feasible, in order to mobilize additional financial resources.
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