PM relaxes land transfer policy

02 Aug 2012 Evaluate

In a move that could fast track the pace of reforms, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday has approved relaxations in the transfer policy for the government land for infrastructure projects. To ensure that there is no procedural delay in acquiring government-owned land for infrastructure projects; PMO besides allowing all land transfer from ministries to PSUs, also eliminated the need of Cabinet approval required for transfer of government-owned land for infrastructure use.

Early last year, a ban had been imposed on all transfer of government owned lands to any entity except in cases where land was to be transferred from one government department to another. This was resulting into long delays in awarding concessions for infrastructure projects, particularly PPP projects. In the meanwhile, the Department of Economic Affairs was to prepare a comprehensive land transfer policy for government owned land. In case any department had to implement a project which required alienation of land either through lease, license or rent, it had to seek specific approval of the Cabinet. All PPP infrastructure projects - roads, railways, ports, civil aviation and metros - have some element of land alienation as the project is often built on government owned land.

With today’s decision all cases of land transfer from Ministries to statutory authorities or PSUs will be allowed, subject to the requirements of normal Government of India Rules; All cases of land transfer on lease or rent or license to a concessionaire which have been appraised through the PPPAC route and approved by the Finance Minister or by the Ministers concerned or by the Cabinet, as the case may be, depending upon the value of the project; and all cases related to the development and use of railway land by Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) as per provisions of Railways Amendment Act, 2005 will be permitted.

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