Bengaluru rail division’s passenger revenue hits record Rs 2,420.55 cr

Bengaluru: Passenger revenue remained the mainstay of operations in the Bengaluru railway division in 2025-26, touching a record Rs 2,420.55 crore, according to Divisional Railway Manager Ashutosh Kumar Singh. 

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said passenger revenue in the last financial year surpassed the previous record of Rs 2,219.67 crore, as the division operated 4,706 express trains, Train on Demand (TOD), or other special train trips. 

Fourteen trains previously hauled by diesel traction have been converted to electric traction, resulting in an annual saving of Rs 43.73 crore. 

The division is opening a third rail coach restaurant at KSR Bengaluru, while a Gati Shakti cargo terminal will be established at Hanakere, off Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, under public-private partnership by Ultratech Cement Ltd. 

Singh noted that a RailMadad war room established at the divisional office helped reduce passenger complaints and grievances by 18% during 2025-26 compared to 2024-25. 

In 2025-26, the division registered 144 cases against touts, seized 277 live tickets valued at Rs 4,08,752 and arrested 144 people. 

Under the Nanhe Farishtey operation, 407 children were rescued and reunited with their families through the Child Welfare Committee. The RPF/Bengaluru also rescued 16 males and 11 females in need of care and protection and reunited them with their families, he added. 

The Bengaluru division achieved a record ticket-checking revenue of Rs 39.68 crore, surpassing the previous best of Rs 37.83 crore. 

Parcel revenue reached Rs 140.31 crore, improving on the earlier best of Rs 134.20 crore. Goods revenue reached Rs 351.07 crore, surpassing the previous best of Rs 327.74 crore. 

In catering services, the division earned Rs 17.37 crore, surpassing the earlier record of Rs 16.51 crore. 

On the freight side, loading touched 2.13 million tonnes, compared to last year's 2.07 million tonnes. The division also recorded its highest-ever rake loading of 2,681, container loading of 0.765 million tonnes, and Port of Loading (POL) loading of 0.669 million tonnes. 

Overall, the South Western Railway (SWR) recorded overall gross revenue of Rs 9,488 crore, while its originating freight revenue touched Rs 5,347.40 crore. 

The SWR's originating freight loading stood at 52.46 MT, of which the Hubballi division alone contributed 39.5 MT. 

The zone electrified 53 route kilometers, bringing its total electrified route length to 3,339 out of 3,712 RKM. It also commissioned 24 km of new railway lines and completed 78.1 km of double lines. 

Passenger revenue rose to Rs 3,468 crore while passenger traffic increased to 176.93 million. 

Passengers crowd a platform at the KSR Bengaluru railway station. DH FILE PHOTO