Central Railway boosts revenue through non-fare sources, with advertising contributing more than half

Assets under this category include self-ticketing zones at 22 railway stations, projection mapping technology for advertising and glow ball towers at CSMT and Panvel, along with advertisement rights at the Uran and Dronagiri railways stations, said CR.

Mobile advertising has also played a key role, bringing in Rs 15.54 crore, according to CR. This includes vinyl wrapping on 26 mail/express trains, food tray advertisements on premium trains such as Vande Bharat, Deccan Queen, Tejas Express, and Janshatabdi Express, as well as advertising on the headrests and glass doors of select trains.

Other sources of non-fare revenue, contributing Rs 10.40 crore, include relaxation massage chairs at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Kalyan, outsourced waiting rooms at various stations, battery-operated carts, and vending of miscellaneous items on trains, said CR.

In March 2025, CR secured key revenue-generating contracts, including relaxation massage chair facilities at LTT and Kalyan for Rs 16.46 lakh and Rs 15.34 lakh, respectively. Advertisement deals were finalised for Roha station (Rs 5.55 lakh), Tejas Express (Rs 29.70 lakh), and LED screens at Vikhroli, Chunabhatti, and Tilaknagar stations (Rs 2.01 crore), said CR. According to CR, outsourcing two non-airconditioned waiting rooms at the Thane railway station added Rs 1.81 crore.