Eastern Railway (ER) has ranked among the top three zonal railways in scrap disposal nationwide, generating ₹251.92 crore through scrap sales in the first five months of the 2026–27 financial year — surpassing its proportionate target by more than 21 per cent. The achievement, spanning divisions across West Bengal, reflects the zone's sustained push under its 'Mission Zero Scrap Balance' programme.

Targets Exceeded by a Wide Margin

Against a proportionate target of ₹207.17 crore up to 31 August 2026, Eastern Railway posted ₹251.92 crore in scrap revenues — nearly 45 per cent of its full-year internal scrap-sale target of ₹565 crore within just five months. The performance also marks a 30.5 per cent jump over the corresponding period of the previous year, when ER had recorded scrap sales of ₹193 crore up to 31 August 2025.

Where the Revenue Came From

A significant share of earnings came from the disposal of obsolete engineering and track materials. Officials said Eastern Railway cleared nearly 11,500 metric tonnes of condemned rails, fetching ₹28.56 crore. Disposal of approximately 29,055 metric tonnes of miscellaneous ferrous scrap generated ₹100.63 crore, while non-ferrous scrap contributed ₹53.65 crore.

Condemned rolling stock added substantially to the total: 175 condemned passenger coaches were auctioned for ₹31.87 crore, and 310 condemned freight wagons fetched ₹11.82 crore through the e-auction platform.

How the Drive Was Organised

Sandeep Shukla, Principal Chief Materials Manager, Eastern Railway, said the results were made possible by coordinated efforts including continuous scrap identification and lot formation, timely condemnation of redundant assets, and transparent disposal through the e-auction system. The drive spanned ER's four divisions — Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, and Malda — as well as major stores depots linked to workshops at Jamalpur, Liluah, Halisahar, and Kanchrapara.

Regular monitoring at each of these sites has helped accelerate the conversion of accumulated scrap into revenue, officials noted, adding that focused tracking of scrap generation and identification has been central to the zone's outperformance.

Operational and Environmental Dimensions

Beyond the revenue angle, Eastern Railway argues the initiative carries meaningful operational and environmental benefits. Timely disposal of unserviceable materials frees up valuable railway land and storage space, improves housekeeping and workplace safety, reduces avoidable accumulation, and enables recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals — contributing to circular economy practices.

Shibram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer, Eastern Railway, said: 'This milestone reflects Eastern Railway's commitment to efficient asset management, financial prudence, and environmental sustainability. Beyond generating substantial non-fare revenue, our sustained scrap disposal drive frees up valuable railway land and storage space, improves workplace safety and housekeeping, and supports circular economy practices through metal recycling. Eastern Railway will continue its momentum toward achieving Mission Zero Scrap Balance.'

What's Next

With ₹251.92 crore already secured in five months against an annual target of ₹565 crore, Eastern Railway is well-placed to reach — and potentially exceed — its full-year scrap-sale goal. Officials say the momentum will be maintained through continued monitoring, faster lot formation, and the use of the e-auction system for transparent price discovery across all divisions.