Indian Railways records sharp increase in earnings from scrap

Indian Railways has earned Rs 2,582 crore from the sale of scrap in the first six months (April-Sept) of the current financial year. This represents a sharp increase of 28.91% over the corresponding figure of Rs 2,003 crore during the same period of the last financial year (2021-22), according to an official statement issued today.

The target for earnings through sale of scrap for the financial year 2022-23 has been fixed at Rs. 4,400 crores.

Ferrous scrap of 3.93 lakh tonnes was disposed of in 2022-23 as compared to 3.60 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. Also 1751 wagons, 1421 coaches and 97 locos were disposed of in 2022-23 as compared to 1835 wagons, 954 coaches and 77 locos in 2021-22 in the April-Sept period, the statement said.

Indian Railways makes all out efforts to optimally utilise resources by mobilising scrap materials and sale through e-auction, the statement added.

Generation and sales of scrap railway material is an ongoing process and is monitored at the highest level in Zonal Railways and in the Railway Board. In construction projects, scrap is normally generated in Gauge Conversion projects. Released Permanent Way items being offered for scrap are not reusable on track. These are disposed of in accordance with the codal provisions of Railways.