Indian Railways achieves highest ever scrap sale of Rs 4,573 Crore in Financial Year 2020-21

Indian Railways has achieved its highest ever scrap sale in the Financial Year 2020-21. Through this sale, Indian Railways earned a total Rs 4573 Cr. during 2020-21 compared to Rs 4333 Cr. during 2019-20 which is 5.5% higher. This is the previous best was Rs 4409 Cr. in 2009-10. 

• Indian Railways makes all out efforts to optimally utilise resources by mobilising scrap materials and sale through e-auction.
• Generation and sales of unserviceable/scrap railway material is an ongoing process and is monitored at highest level in Zonal Railways and in Railway Board.  
• Railway administration makes all out efforts to mobilise scrap materials and sale through e-auction.  
• 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.

Recent Achievements:

Railway Electrification:

Meanwhile, Indian Railways has logged the highest ever electrification of sections covering 6,015 Route Kilometer (RKM) in a single year during 2020-21. Despite COVID pandemic, It has surpassed the previous highest of 5,276 RKM achieved in 2018-19.

• It is a proud moment for Indian Railways for achieving the target of 6000 km plus electrification project completion during tough time 2020-21. 
• Indian Railways is becoming environment friendly and energy secured.
• The latest Broad Gauge network of Indian Railways is 63,949 Route kilometer (RKM) and with 740 km of Konkan Railway is 64,689 RKM, out of which 45,881 RKM i.e. 71 % have been electrified by 31.03.2021.
• A lot of emphasis has been given to Railway Electrification in recent years with a view to reduce the Nation’s dependence on imported petroleum-based energy and to enhance the country’s energy security, with a vision of providing eco-friendly, faster and energy-efficient mode of transportation.
• More than 5 times electrification was achieved during (2014-21) last seven years as compared to during 2007-14. 
• Since 2014, a record 24,080 RKM (37% of present Broad Gauge routes) have been electrified against electrification of 4,337 RKM (7% of present Broad Gauge routes) during 2007-14.
• Out of total 45,881 RKM electrified so far, 34 % has been electrified in the last three years only.
• Indian Railways has also commissioned a record 56 TSSs (Traction Sub Stations) during 2020-21, as against previous best of 42, which is an improvement of 33% despite COVID pandemic.
• A total of 201 Traction Sub Stations have been commissioned during the last seven years as well.

Some of the Major sections electrified by the Indian Railways over the year are as follows:

Indian Railways has planned to fully electrify its tracks by December 2023. Total Rail electrification would contribute to the goal of “net zero” emissions by 2030 by drawing its entire electrical load from renewable energy sources.

Freight loading & Earnings:

Despite the Covid challenges, Indian Railways closed the year with record freight loading and earnings. In the closing month of this fiscal year 2020-21, Indian Railways surpassed the last year’s loading that is 1224.45 compared to last year’s 1205.04 which shows the growth of 2%.

• Indian Railways earned 116634.9 from freight loading compared to last year’s earning 113477.9 which sees a growth of 3%.
• In the month of March 2021, Indian Railways’ loading was 122.19 million tonnes which has seen the growth of 24% compared to last year’s loading for the same month that was 98.76.
• In this month, Indian Railways earned Rs. 12137.22 Crores from freight loading which is also 24% higher compared to last year’s earnings for the same month (Rs. 9806.09 crores).
• On a day to day basis, as on 31st March, 2021 (morning), the freight loading of Indian Railways was 3.24 million tonnes, which is 35% higher compared to last year’s loading for the same date (2.4 million tonnes).
• On this date, Indian Railways earned 364.92 crores which is also 53% higher compared to last year’s earnings for the same date (239.14 crores).
• Despite the many challenges put in by Covid, Indian Railways continued to register a steady growth in its freight loading and earning.
• Offering of concessions/discounts in Indian Railways are among the factors attributed to this achievement.
• It may be noted that improvements in freight movements will be institutionalized and incorporated in the upcoming zero based time table.
• Indian Railways turned this calamity into an opportunity to improve all round efficiencies and performances.

Source: PIB-Press Release | Image Credit (representational): MoR