JAMMU: The Jammu Division of Indian Railways has achieved a record milestone in its ongoing push for asset monetization, with a mega e-auction successfully allocating multiple multi-purpose stalls across key railway stations in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.
Led by Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Uchit Singhal, the auction witnessed strong participation from bidders, reflecting increased commercial interest in station-level business opportunities. Officials said the initiative is aimed at enhancing passenger amenities while significantly boosting non-fare revenue for the Railways.
According to auction results, stalls have been allotted at prominent stations including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Pathankot Cantt, Sopore and Anantnag. The first-year rentals for the stalls range from approximately ₹2.22 lakh to ₹25 lakh, depending on their location and commercial viability.
The highest-bidding allotment was made at Platforms 2/3 of the Katra Railway Station, with a first-year rent of ₹25 lakh and a total five-year lease value of around ₹1.47 crore. In total, the Jammu Division expects to generate ₹2.80 crore over the five-year concession period from all allotted units.
Railway officials said the multi-purpose stalls will provide essential goods such as packaged water, food, toiletries, magazines, and children’s items—enhancing the overall journey experience for lakhs of daily passengers while supporting small business growth around the stations.
DCM Uchit Singhal hailed the outcome as the most successful e-auction yet for the Division.
“The mega e-auction conducted on November 24 has generated the highest revenue among all our previous e-auctions,” he said. “Along with improved revenue, the new stalls will deliver greater convenience to passengers and promote local entrepreneurship, making train travel more comfortable and hassle-free.”
The Railways is expected to hold similar e-auctions in the coming months as part of a broader strategy to expand last-mile retail and public-utility services at stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and other modernization initiatives.
