To speed up public private partnership projects in the country, the Prime Minister has approved relaxation in policies related to transfer of the government land. This would ensure that infrastructural projects are not held up because of procedural delays.
A release issued by the PMO said that a ban on the transfer of all government owned land was imposed last year except in cases where land was to be transferred from one government department to another. To implement a project that required renting, transfer or leasing out of land, the concerned department had to seek the approval of the cabinet, leading to long delays in awarding contracts for projects like roads, railways, ports, civil aviation and metros.
The release also said that the policy has been relaxed for all land transfers from Ministries to statutory authorities or PSUs, all cases of land transfer on lease or rent to an project proponent which have been appraised through the PPPAC Public Private Partnership Approval Committee route and approved by the Finance Minister and development and use of railway land .