Central Railway Warns Against Construction Within 30 Metres of Railway Land Without NOC
Pune, 14th July 2026: Central Railway has issued a public advisory cautioning citizens against undertaking any construction within 30 metres of Railway land without obtaining a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Railway Administration, warning that such structures will be treated as unauthorized and will not be eligible for compensation.
The advisory is based on Railway Board’s Letter No. 2015/LML-I/19/2 dated June 25, 2015, and provisions under Para 3.1.4 of the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), which require prior Railway NOC before any construction is carried out within 30 metres of Railway land.
According to Central Railway, recent inspections have revealed that several buildings and other structures have been constructed near the proposed railway alignment, particularly within the restricted 30-metre zone, without obtaining the required permission from the Railway Administration.
Railway officials stated that the increase in such constructions during the ongoing land acquisition process has raised concerns as unauthorized structures could delay infrastructure projects, complicate land acquisition proceedings, and result in disputes related to compensation and eligibility.
To document the existing status of land along the project corridor, the Railway Administration is conducting drone and video surveys. The surveys are intended to create an accurate record of the land and existing structures before any recent constructions.
Central Railway has advised members of the public not to begin any new construction within 30 metres of Railway land without first securing the necessary NOC from the competent Railway Authority. It has also clarified that any construction carried out without approval will be treated as unauthorized under the applicable rules and regulations.
The Railway Administration has further stated that structures built without the mandatory NOC will not be considered for compensation during land acquisition. Any expenditure incurred on such construction will be at the risk of the individual concerned, and the Railway Administration will not be responsible for financial losses, demolition, non-payment of compensation, or any other consequences arising from unauthorized construction.
The advisory also calls upon Gram Panchayats, Municipal Councils, Planning Authorities and other local bodies not to grant building permissions or approve development proposals within 30 metres of Railway land without verifying that the applicant has obtained the mandatory Railway NOC.
