Central Railway Turns Trash to Treasure: Rs 323 Cr

Central Railway has emerged as a top earner among all railway zones in India, generating a substantial Rs 323.50 crore through scrap sales during the first half of the 2026-27 financial year (April to September). This impressive revenue stream is a direct result of the Railways' ongoing Zero Scrap Mission. This initiative systematically identifies, segregates, and auctions off unused, condemned, and obsolete railway materials, transforming potential waste into significant income.

September 2026 proved to be a particularly fruitful month for Central Railway, with scrap sales reaching an all-time monthly high of Rs 70.42 crore. This surge was partly driven by intensified disposal efforts during the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, which ran from September 17 to October 2. During this period, over 4,884 metric tonnes of scrap valued at Rs 44.24 crore were processed across various divisions and depots.

The scrap material disposed of was diverse, including nearly 30,000 metric tonnes of rail permanent-way scrap, over 1.72 lakh worn-out sleepers, and significant quantities of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Obsolete rolling stock, such as 23 locomotives, 62 coaches, and 70 wagons, were also sold. Additionally, e-waste sales contributed Rs 1.11 crore to the earnings up to September 2026.

Among its divisions, Bhusawal led with Rs 57.27 crore in cumulative scrap sales, followed by Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Solapur divisions. Beyond revenue generation, the scrap drive helps in freeing up valuable space, reducing clutter, and organizing railway premises. This focus on monetizing idle assets is a key strategy for Indian Railways to boost non-fare revenue, with national scrap sales reaching Rs 6,813.86 crore in the previous financial year 2025-26.