DDU division emerges as ECR’s top performer

Patna: Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) division of East Central Railway (ECR) emerged as the top performer, winning the prestigious GM’s overall efficiency shield at the ‘Vishisht Rail Puraskar’ railway week function held in Hajipur on Saturday.The ECR honoured its best-performing divisions and stations during the annual ceremony, recognising excellence in operations, safety, cleanliness and overall performance.ECR CPRO Saraswati Chandra said Dhanbad division finished as the runner-up in the GM’s overall efficiency award category. However, Dhanbad earned distinction in the cleanliness category, with Dhanbad railway station adjudged the cleanest among major stations.In the medium station category, Patliputra Junction under Danapur division was declared the cleanest station, reflecting sustained efforts to improve passenger amenities and hygiene standards, he said.Speaking on the occasion, ECR general manager Chhatrasal Singh said the zone registered a record revenue of Rs 31,000 crore during the 2025–26 financial year.Freight operations also witnessed a significant boost, with goods loading reaching 200 million tonnes, he said.On the operational front, the zone expanded modern train services by introducing 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains, 17 pairs of Amrit Bharat Express services and one pair of Namo Bharat trains, enhancing connectivity and passenger convenience across the network, the GM said.In a welfare initiative, ECR spent Rs 1.33 crore on scholarships for wards of railway employees for higher education during the fiscal year, underlining its commitment to employees’ welfare, the CPRO said.Senior railway officials from the ECR headquarters, divisional railway managers (DRMs) and employees from five divisions attended the function, where achievements across various sectors were recognised and awarded, marking another milestone year for the ECR, sources said.