Railways Scrap Sales Top ₹6,800 Cr; Non-Fare Revenue Surges

New Delhi, April 19: The government on Sunday said Indian Railways has strengthened its financial position by earning ₹6,813.86 crore from scrap sales in FY 2025–26, exceeding its ₹6,000 crore target.

The performance highlights a sustained push toward asset monetisation, with the national transporter unlocking value from idle and unserviceable assets across depots, yards, and workshops. This follows a similarly strong showing in FY 2024–25, when scrap revenues reached ₹6,641.78 crore against a ₹5,400 crore target.

Officials said the initiative not only enhances financial sustainability but also optimises land use and supports environmental goals through recycling and waste reduction. A transparent disposal mechanism has further improved efficiency in handling obsolete assets.

Alongside scrap monetisation, non-fare revenue (NFR) has emerged as a key growth driver. Earnings from streams such as station redevelopment, advertising, and commercial utilisation of railway assets have grown steadily, rising from around ₹290 crore in FY 2021–22 to ₹777.76 crore in FY 2025–26—an increase of nearly 168%.

The latest NFR figures also surpassed the annual target of ₹720.85 crore, achieving approximately 107.9% of the goal, compared to ₹686.86 crore in FY 2024–25.

The government noted that these diversified revenue streams are enabling Indian Railways to reinvest in modern infrastructure and passenger-focused improvements, including enhanced station amenities, cleanliness, digital services, and safety systems—without increasing passenger fares.

To further boost non-fare income, Indian Railways has introduced initiatives such as premium branded retail outlets at stations. Contracts have already been awarded to set up company-owned single-brand outlets, with 22 premium brands allotted across the network, aimed at improving passenger convenience while generating additional revenue.