State to officially record ‘Government of India Railway Department’ in land and property records
Historic state decision aims to end ownership ambiguities, strengthen land protection, and accelerate railway infrastructure projects
Mumbai, May 7: In a major administrative and land governance reform, the Government of Maharashtra has decided to grant a distinct legal identity to railway-owned land across the state. Under the new policy, railway land will now be officially recorded in village maps, land ownership extracts (7/12 records), and property registers under the name “Government of India – Railway Department.”
The decision, announced through a Government Resolution issued by the Revenue and Forest Department, is expected to resolve decades-old confusion surrounding railway land ownership and streamline future infrastructure expansion projects.
Many railway corridors in Maharashtra date back to the pre-independence era. During the first large-scale land surveys and settlement operations conducted between 1890 and 1930, railway lands were often informally marked as “under railway possession.” However, in several cases, official ownership records such as land extracts and property cards were never properly updated. As a result, original private landowners’ names continued to appear in government records even after land acquisition by the railways, leading to legal and technical complications over boundaries and ownership rights.
Under the revised framework, railway lands will now be assigned independent survey numbers, group numbers, or city survey identifiers. Official land records, including 7/12 extracts, Form 8-A, and property cards, will clearly list “Government of India – Railway Department” as the legal owner. Village maps will also separately demarcate railway boundaries to eliminate future disputes and encroachments.
The government has further clarified that these lands will be classified according to the applicable acquisition and occupancy rules, including designation under “Occupant Class-1” wherever relevant.
To ensure implementation, district collectors and the Land Records Department have been instructed to undertake a special verification drive. The exercise will cover land acquired directly by the railways from private owners, as well as land transferred by the state government to railway authorities.
Officials believe the move will significantly improve the protection and management of railway assets while helping prevent encroachments and unauthorized occupation of railway property.
The decision is also expected to strengthen coordination between railway authorities and the state revenue administration, removing legal bottlenecks that have often delayed railway expansion and modernization projects in Maharashtra.
With land ownership records set to become clearer and legally robust, the state government views the reform as a critical step toward improving infrastructure governance and enabling faster execution of future railway development initiatives.
