Mysore New Goods Terminal Wagon Depot to be shifted to Yeliyur in Mandya

Mysore/Mysuru: In a major railway infrastructure boost, plans are underway to establish a dedicated Vande Bharat Maintenance Depot in Mysuru city at an estimated cost of Rs. 400 crore to support its growing fleet, with key facilities.

The proposed facility will cater to the maintenance needs of Vande Bharat trains operating from different regions across the country.

Announcing this at a press conference at his office this morning, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of South Western Railway (SWR), Mysuru Division, Mudit Mittal, said there is a proposal to shift the Mysore New Goods Terminal Wagon Depot to Yeliyur in Mandya district.

The Vande Bharat Maintenance Depot is proposed to come up in the space currently occupied by the wagon depot. The depot will feature pit line centres designed for the rapid servicing of self-propelled trainsets.

The depot will have automated washing, specialised underslung equipment maintenance, high-tech diagnostic tools and dedicated training centres for high-speed train maintenance.

Introduced in 2019, Vande Bharat train services have significantly transformed passenger rail travel across the country. “The proposed facility, estimated to cost Rs. 400 crore, is envisioned as a modern hub for train maintenance, defect rectification, washing and repairs,” Mittal said.

He explained that the project is currently in the planning and proposal stage. A building survey and preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) are required before construction can begin. Once these preliminary steps are completed, the proposal will be submitted to the Railway Board and the Ministry of Railways for approval.

The maintenance depot will feature a large shed and a tier-based maintenance system designed to streamline upkeep and repair work.

It will also house an Automatic Coach Washing Plant capable of operating in all weather conditions while significantly reducing water consumption, thereby supporting the maintenance of high-speed train services, he said.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier informed Parliament that maintenance infrastructure across Indian Railways is planned and developed based on operational and maintenance requirements.

“Accordingly, new maintenance depots and the upgradation of existing depots with modern infrastructure suitable for Vande Bharat train sets have been planned across the Indian Railways network at a cost exceeding Rs. 14,000 crore,” Vaishnaw had stated.

At present, 164 Vande Bharat train services with chair car coaches are operating across the Indian Railways network.

Exceptional performance recorded

DRM Mittal said SWR’s Mysuru Division recorded exceptional performance during the financial year 2025–26, achieving milestones across passenger, freight and non-fare revenue segments.

The Division registered its highest-ever passenger revenue of Rs. 449.13 crore, surpassing the previous record of Rs. 419.89 crore. Ticket checking earnings also touched a record Rs. 9.75 crore, exceeding both the previous best and the annual target.

In non-fare revenue, the division recorded significant growth, earning Rs. 3.17 crore from commercial publicity, Rs. 4.02 crore from parking and Rs. 2.61 crore from catering, all higher than the previous financial year.

On the freight front, the Division posted its second-highest freight revenue of Rs. 900.19 crore. Parcel earnings remained strong at Rs. 11.81 crore, while revenue from SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) and VPH (High Capacity Parcel Van) leasing reached a record Rs. 5.85 crore.

Among passenger service initiatives, the Non-Rail Head Passenger Reservation System facility at Kuvempunagar in Mysuru became the first in Indian Railways to operate the Advanced Passenger Operating System (APOS) PRS via static IP, enabling seamless digital and cashless ticket booking.

Safety and vigilance measures were intensified with extensive checks at stations, parcel offices and pantry cars, during which no inflammable or prohibited items were detected. Joint drives against illegal activities also reported zero cases, the DRM said.