Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Posts Record Monthly Revenue

11 Jun 2026 CW Team

Revenue for the May travel window has shown a broadly rising trajectory over the past five years. The railway recorded Rs 31.96 mn in May 2022 and Rs 35.82 mn in May 2023, with a lone dip to Rs 28.86 mn in May 2024 that officials attributed to the Lok Sabha elections and phased polling across West Bengal. The rebound to Rs 35.86 mn in May 2025 and the latest increase underline a recovery in leisure travel to the hills.

Officials said the momentum was expected to carry into June, with projected revenue for June 2026 put at Rs 37.00 mn, signalling another strong performance as the summer season extended into the early monsoon. The most sought-after service on the route remained the tourist joyride between Darjeeling and Ghoom, which includes a halt at the Batasia Loop and clear views of Kanchenjunga on good days. The railway also operated services with a vistadome coach and a restaurant car aimed at the premium end of the tourist market.

The section climbs from roughly 500 feet at Siliguri Junction to 7,408 feet at Ghum, the second highest railway station in the world accessible by steam locomotive, before descending slightly to Darjeeling at 9,012 feet and negotiating this ascent through five reverses and three loops. Scheduled fares on the full run from Darjeeling to New Jalpaiguri were Rs 1,420 for first class and Rs 1,700 for an AC chair car, while shorter segments and weekend tourist services were priced lower. Officials said the sustained interest from domestic and foreign visitors had supported commercial viability for heritage operations.

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway collected Rs 39.56 million (mn) in May 2026, its highest single-month revenue since operations began. This figure surpassed the previous monthly record of Rs 35.86 mn set in May 2025 and reflected strong tourist footfall in the Darjeeling hills during the peak summer travel period. The narrow-gauge line runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling across 87 kilometres of hill terrain and holds UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Revenue for the May travel window has shown a broadly rising trajectory over the past five years. The railway recorded Rs 31.96 mn in May 2022 and Rs 35.82 mn in May 2023, with a lone dip to Rs 28.86 mn in May 2024 that officials attributed to the Lok Sabha elections and phased polling across West Bengal. The rebound to Rs 35.86 mn in May 2025 and the latest increase underline a recovery in leisure travel to the hills. Officials said the momentum was expected to carry into June, with projected revenue for June 2026 put at Rs 37.00 mn, signalling another strong performance as the summer season extended into the early monsoon. The most sought-after service on the route remained the tourist joyride between Darjeeling and Ghoom, which includes a halt at the Batasia Loop and clear views of Kanchenjunga on good days. The railway also operated services with a vistadome coach and a restaurant car aimed at the premium end of the tourist market. The section climbs from roughly 500 feet at Siliguri Junction to 7,408 feet at Ghum, the second highest railway station in the world accessible by steam locomotive, before descending slightly to Darjeeling at 9,012 feet and negotiating this ascent through five reverses and three loops. Scheduled fares on the full run from Darjeeling to New Jalpaiguri were Rs 1,420 for first class and Rs 1,700 for an AC chair car, while shorter segments and weekend tourist services were priced lower. Officials said the sustained interest from domestic and foreign visitors had supported commercial viability for heritage operations.

Real Estate

04 Jul 2026

India Office Leasing Hits 43 Million Sq Ft in H1 2026: Cushman & Wakefield

India's office market recorded its strongest first-half leasing performance on record, with gross leasing volume (GLV) reaching approximately 43 million sq ft in H1 2026, a five per cent year-on-year increase, according to Cushman & Wakefield's Q2 2026 Office Market Beat Report.Global Capability Centres (GCCs) remained the key demand driver, leasing 16.5 million sq ft, up around 38 per cent year on year, accounting for 38 per cent of total office demand. Bengaluru led GCC leasing with 5.36 million sq ft, followed by Pune, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai.Flexible workspace operators also posted their ..

Products

04 Jul 2026

Window Magic Opens Luxury Fenestration Experience Centre

Window Magic has launched Window Magic Atelier, a luxury fenestration experience centre in New Delhi, alongside WM AURA, its new ultra-luxury range of aluminium window, door and façade systems developed in collaboration with a European architectural systems specialist.The experience centre has been designed as an interactive space for architects, developers, interior designers and homeowners to explore premium aluminium and uPVC fenestration solutions through curated display zones showcasing the company's latest products and design capabilities.The newly launched WM AURA range features alumin..

Real Estate

04 Jul 2026

Peninsula Land Launches Villa Plot Project in Alibaug

Peninsula Land has launched Peninsula Estates, Alibaug ONE, an 11-acre plotted development offering 92 villa-ready plots in Alibaug, targeting homebuyers seeking low-density living within reach of Mumbai.The project offers plots ranging from 2,454 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft and is positioned around the concept of enabling buyers to build customised bungalows in one of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's emerging growth corridors.According to the company, infrastructure projects such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu), the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Virar–Alibaug Multimo..