NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 2025 — The Indian Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has instructed the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) to launch affordable rental housing projects on its urban land parcels for younger railway employees. The aim is to provide decent accommodation for those who relocate for work, ensuring housing is both accessible and affordable.

Vaishnaw asked the RLDA chairman to prioritize residential projects that could be rented by the young workforce, especially employees moving into cities for new assignments. The initiative is seen as a way to improve living conditions, attract talent, and offer greater job satisfaction.

Using underutilized railway land for rental housing is also expected to generate revenue for RLDA. The move aligns with government trends and precedents like the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) scheme, earlier established to assist migrant workers during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: The Times of India