Payyanur: Indian Railways are earning millions of rupees by dismantling and selling obsolete infrastructure, ranging from historic bridges to scrap rail clips and decommissioned train engines.

Work has already commenced on dismantling the historic Karyangod railway bridge, built by the British in 1907. Tenders have also been finalised to dismantle the old Dharmadam Kudakkadavu bridge, while old bridges over the Dharmadam river and at Ezhimala are slated for upcoming auctions following the commissioning of modern replacement structures.

Demolition underway at Karyangod

A Tiruchirappalli-based firm from Tamil Nadu secured the contract for the 14-pillar Karyangod bridge, which includes the sale of its sleepers, girders and steel rails. Contractors have already removed the track and girders from five pillars, though the stone pillars themselves will remain standing in the river.

Meanwhile, the tender for the Dharmadam Kudakkadavu bridge covers its steel girders and steel sleepers, while excluding the railway tracks and concrete sleepers.

Multi-crore scrap targets

Scrap disposal has emerged as a major revenue generator for the national transporter. Across the country, Indian Railways generated ₹6,813 crore from scrap sales in the 2025–26 financial year. For the current 2026–27 fiscal year, the national target stands at ₹6,000 crore.

Southern Railway, which oversees operations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, has been assigned a target of ₹440 crore for 2026–27, having raised ₹531 crore from scrap auctions in the previous financial year.