Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division Madhukar Roat on Friday, August 15, said digital transactions in passenger ticket booking has grown to 70% in the reserved segment while it has reached 50% in the unreserved ticket booking.

Delivering the Independence Day address at the Divisional headquarters in Palakkad, Mr. Roat said 101 automatic ticket vending machines with 212 facilitators in 26 stations, including Mangaluru Central, account for 66% of unreserved ticket booking while unreserved ticketing system (UTS) on mobile accounts for 11% of tickets bought.

Improved earnings

Mr. Roat said gross earnings from originating revenue up to July 2025 stood at ₹598 crore, up by 3% compared to ₹580 crore last year. Capital expenditure reached ₹230 crore, showing a 45.56% increase compared to last year — a clear indicator of investment in infrastructure and services. Passenger revenue stood at ₹353 crore, reflecting a 6% growth over the same period last year, he added. Up to July 2025, the division carried 29.33 million passengers against the target of 27.42 million, surpassing it by 7%.

Highlighting the division’s progress over the past year, including station redevelopment works at 16 locations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, Mr. Roat said Mahe and Vadakara were already inaugurated and five more stations were set for completion next month. The division maintained a punctuality rate of 94% and recorded zero consequential accidents, supported by rigorous safety measures.

Freight loading exceeded targets, new train services were launched and several existing trains were extended or augmented to meet passenger demand. Passenger amenities saw significant upgrades, including lifts, escalators, air-conditioned waiting halls, advanced ticketing facilities, and digital service enhancements.

In sustainability, 628 kWp of solar power was installed and a 1,700 kWp solar plant was planned, expected to save over ₹1 crore annually. Infrastructure improvements, including complete track renewal between Walayar and Palakkad, replacement of over 3,800 steel channel sleepers, and bridge rehabilitation have strengthened safety and operational efficiency.

The Railway Protection Force enhanced passenger security through initiatives like Meri Saheli and Operation Amanat, assisting over 34,000 women passengers, recovering property worth ₹1.74 crore and seizing narcotics valued at ₹4.09 crore.