Indian Railways Earns Rs 6,813 Cr from Scrap, Non-Fare Revenue Jumps 168% to Boost Passenger Services

Indian Railways has strengthened its financial position through record earnings from scrap monetisation and rising non-fare revenue, enabling infrastructure upgrades without increasing passenger fares.

In FY 2025–26, Indian Railways earned Rs 6,813.86 crore from scrap sales, surpassing its target of Rs 6,000 crore. This follows strong performance in FY 2024–25, when it achieved Rs 6,641.78 crore against a target of Rs 5,400 crore. The initiative has helped unlock value from idle assets while promoting recycling and efficient asset management.

Non-fare revenue has also shown significant growth, rising from around Rs 290 crore in FY 2021–22 to Rs 777.76 crore in FY 2025–26, marking an increase of about 168%. The latest earnings exceeded the annual target of Rs 720.85 crore, highlighting the growing importance of alternative revenue streams.

Revenue is being generated through station redevelopment, advertising, commercial utilisation of assets and passenger-focused initiatives. These funds are being reinvested to improve station amenities, cleanliness, digital services and overall passenger experience.

Key initiatives include the rollout of premium branded outlets across stations, expansion of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra outlets, and development of facilities such as multi-level parking, co-working spaces, digital lounges and healthcare kiosks.

These measures are helping Indian Railways enhance service quality while maintaining financial sustainability and reducing dependence on fare increases.