The state revenue department of Maharashtra has decided to assign a separate survey number or group number to land owned by the railways in every village map and record of rights, including the 7/12 extract and property registration card. The ownership of such land will be officially recorded as Government of India-Railway Department.
Government Resolution Issued
In a Government Resolution (GR) issued on Thursday, the revenue department highlighted that in Maharashtra, areas of railway routes that existed in original surveys and land records have not been properly recorded in village maps and village 7/12 extracts with ownership rights in the name of the railways. At the time of the original survey and land records, entries of railway-held areas were recorded as railway property, but entries regarding land ownership rights of the railway are not found in the rights records.
Current Status of Railway Land Records
The GR states that railway routes have been referred to as road and track in existing records. Furthermore, while railways acquired private lands over time, the ownership was never transferred to the department in government records. This has led to discrepancies in land documentation.
Impact of the Decision
This move aims to regularize the land records and ensure that railway land is clearly identified and owned by the railway department. It will help in avoiding disputes and provide clarity in land ownership. The new survey numbers will be integrated into the existing land record system across all villages in Maharashtra.
The decision is expected to streamline administrative processes and facilitate better management of railway assets. It also aligns with efforts to digitize and update land records in the state.
