GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Office of the Director of Town&

Country Planning, A.P., Hyderabad.
Circular NO.7274/95/H1

Dated: 26.3.1997.

Sub:- Town Planning approval of layouts/buildings adjacent to Railway track

Certain guidelines issued reg.
Ref:- 1. Lr.No.277/B Gel. Dt.31.3.95 of C.E., S.C.R., Secunderabad.
2. This office Cir.No.7274/95/H1 Dt. 5.6.95
3. This office Cir.No.7274/95/H1, Dt.10.10.95.
4. This office Cir.No.7274/95/H1, Dt.18.9.96.
As regards the distance to be maintained from Railway boundary to any building in
connection with the approval of layout, installations etc. Instructions were issued from time
to time in this office circular cited above.
The Chief Engineer, South Central Railway, Secunderabad vide his letter cited (1) has
informed this department that the distance required to be maintained from the Railway
boundary for the proposed colonies or layouts etc. Should be minimum 100-0 (30 mts)
from the edge of the Railway boundary. He has also enclosed an extract of the Indian
Railways boundary. He has also enclosed an extract of the Indian Railways ways and Works
Manual where in paras 3 and 4 of circular letter No.5456-W of 24.4.1946 from Government
of India Railway Department (Railway Board) to the provincial Government are reproduced.
As per para 3(1) an open space of approximately 30 mts. (1000) being left between
the Railway boundary and the nearest edge of a building constructed on an adjacent land the
exact space to be left being Governed by local conditions.
In view of the above, it is finally decided basing on the guidelines issued in the
Railway Manual that a distance of 100-0 (30 mts) shall be maintained from the railway
property to any building in all the proposed layouts, installations etc.
This circular supercedes all earlier instructions in this regard.
Director of Town & Country
Planning.
Copy to all Municipal Commissioners.
Copy to all Regl. Deputy Directors of Town Planning.
Copy to Vice Chairman, H.U.D.A., Hyderabad.

INDIAN RAILWAYS WAY AND WORKS MANUAL

Acquisition of Management and Disposal of land
728 Construction of Government and private buildings near railway land :1) While it may be realised that Railways have a prior right of acquisition, utilisation of land
adjacent to railway boundaries, the Railway Administration only insist on previous intimation
being given by the Revenue authorities or local Governments when such lands are assigned
for specific purposes. For prevention of encroachments on railway land such as by the
erection of rings and platforms and the gradual accrual of easements such as a right of and a
right to discharge sullage or storm water over railway land it is able that sufficient open space
be provided between the railway boundary the nearest face of any structure erected on
adjoining land.
a) Paras 3 and 4 of circular letter No.5456-W of 24 th April 1946 from Government of India
Railway Department (Railway Board) to the provincial earmarked are reproduced below:
3. It seems that the interest of the Railways will be suitably safeguarded by providing for:(i)

an open space of approximately 30 m. (100 ft) being left between the railway
boundary and the nearest edge of a building constructed on an adjacent land, the
exact space to be left being governed by local conditions: and

(ii)

Intimation regarding proposed constructions on lands adjacent to the railway

boundary being given to the railway authorities at specified period before the
commencement of erection work. A period of 30 days might be suitable.

12. The lands adjoining the railway boundary will be either privately owned or nazul and will
either included in a municipal area or not. Regarding private lands not included in a
municipal area there appears to be no method of enforcing the provisions mentioned in
paragraph 3 above. As regards private lands included in a municipal area the provisions
can be made applicable by incorporating them in the municipal bye-laws and it is
requested that if the provincial Governments see, no objection, the Municipal Committees
of the province may be asked to frame bye-laws to this effect. As regards nazul lands,
both inside and outside municipal areas, it is suggested that if the provincial Governments
see no objection, suitable provision may be made in the conditions governing transfer at
the time of making grants.
(a) In cities and towns where land is valuable and the cost high it is not ejected of the owner
of a plot to leave a large vacant space between his building and the railway boundary. It
is deemed that the interests of the Railway would adequately safeguarded if sufficient
vacant space is left so as to facilitate the road the drainage developments outside the
railway land to avoid requests surrender of railway land for access, at a future date.
If necessary that the Chief Engineer should arrange with each State Authority will frame rules
in connection with:-

(i)
(ii)

The procedure to be adopted for obtaining the Railway Administrations opinion

before consenting to the assignment of land adjacent to railway limits for any specific
purpose: and
Extent of open space to be left outside the railway boundaries for Government owned
and privately owned lands.
Such orders may be issued by the State Government in the form of Government
Circulars of Government Orders, copies of which should be carefully recorded in the
Offices of the Chief Engineer, Regional Engineer, Divisional/District Engineer and
Assistant Engineer.

(e)
Construction of a building or other structure near a station yard or between stations
adjacent to railway limits and within the zone specified in the said Government Circulars or
Orders, should be intimated at its commencement by the Permanent Way Inspector/works
Inspector to the Divisional/District Engineer and Assistant Engineer by wire and copied to the
Local Authority, furnishing brief particulars with kilometrage (mileage) and the distance of
the structure from the railway boundary. This action should be immediately followed by a
brief report and a sketch of the construction. On receipt of the report the Divisional/District
Engineer/should address the Local Authority to arrange stoppage of construction. Structures
within the prohibited limits should be dealt with as encroachments and action taken
accordingly.