Lok Sabha Question No. 3611 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: Shortfall in Revenue
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

(a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3611 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.01.2019

## SHORTFALL IN REVENUE

3611.  SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  a  shortfall  in  revenue  earned  vis-à-vis  its target  by  the  Railways  from  passengers  and  freight  during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof, Zone-wise and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Railways  have  incurred  huge losses  on  account  of  under-utilisation  of  Railways  Cargo Services in the country during the said period;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, Zone-wise and the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any survey to assess the  contribution  of  each  Zone  to  the  losses  incurred/profit earned by the Railways during the said period; and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  and  the  outcome  thereof,  Zone-wise  and  if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  3611  BY  SHRI  SANJAY  DHOTRE,    SHRI  BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB AND SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE  TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.01.2019 REGARDING SHORTFALL IN REVENUE

(a)&  (b):  Yes,  Madam.  There  has  been  a  shortfall  in  the  revenue  earned under passengers and freight vis-à-vis respective targets during the last three years i.e.  2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. In the current year 2018-19 (till the end of November-2018) also, these earnings have remained short of  respective  proportionate  targets.  Zone-wise  position  is  appended  as Appendix-I  and  Appendix-II  repectively.  The  reasons  of  shortfall  are broadly as under:

## 2015-16

-  Less than targeted originating passengers booked in non suburban (Non PRS).
-  Less than targeted loading and average freight lead.

## 2016-17

-  Less  than  targeted  originating  passengers-non-suburban-non  PRS segment.
- 
- Less than targeted average freight lead.

## 2017-18

-  Less than targeted originating passengers booked in PRS segment.
- 
- Less than targeted loading in Iron Ore.

## 2018-19 (upto November-18)

-  Earning shortfall against Budget Proportionate in passenger is due to drop in non-suburban non-PRS passengers and goods mainly due to adjustment of the freight advance taken in 2017-18

(c)& (d): The last three years and current year container loading details in Indian Railways are as under:

(in Million tonnes)

| Zonal Railway              |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 (upto Nov.18) |
|----------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------|
| Central Railway            |      9.41 |      7.97 |      8.31 |                    5.79 |
| Eastern Railway            |      0.88 |      1.04 |      1.04 |                    0.54 |
| East Central Railway       |      0.29 |      0.26 |      0.27 |                    0.22 |
| East Coast Railway         |      1.33 |      2.01 |      2.38 |                    2.4  |
| Northern Railway           |      8.02 |      8.53 |      8.59 |                    5.67 |
| North Central Railway      |      1.98 |      2.01 |      2.29 |                    1.53 |
| North Eastern Railway      |      0.28 |      0.18 |      0.41 |                    0.25 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway |      0.12 |      0.09 |      0.1  |                    0.06 |
| North Western Railway      |      3.66 |      4.82 |      6.97 |                    5.31 |
| Southern Railway           |      1.51 |      1.53 |      1.5  |                    0.98 |
| South Central Railway      |      1.01 |      0.88 |      1.05 |                    0.84 |
| South Eastern Railway      |      1.37 |      1.24 |      1.45 |                    1.08 |
| South East Central Railway |      0.46 |      0.59 |      0.7  |                    0.39 |
| South Western Railway      |      0.77 |      0.8  |      0.73 |                    0.5  |
| Western Railway            |     14.45 |     14.85 |     17.53 |                   13.19 |
| West Central Railway       |      0.65 |      0.69 |      0.89 |                    0.56 |
| Konkan Railway             |      0    |      0.11 |      0.1  |                    0.1  |
| Total                      |     46.19 |     47.6  |     54.31 |                   39.41 |

During each of the last three years and the current year, Railways have no losses on account of underutilization of Railways Cargo Service.

(e)&  (f):  Seen  from  the  overall  context,  Railways  have  not  incurred  any operating loss so far but have generated 'surplus' of various magnitudes after  meeting all revenue expenditure. However, there are certain zones which are not able to generate excess over their revenue expenditure as their revenue expenditure exceeds their revenue receipts.

This  is  because  all  zones  of  Indian  Railways,  for  reasons  of  their geographical location, state of industrialization/  commercial/business activity,  are  not  evenly  placed  in  respect  of  traffic  earnings  which  are apportioned amongst the zones on the basis of traffic carried/traversed on the  respective  system.  Nevertheless,  all  the  zones  irrespective  of  their traffic  output,  have  a  fixed  element  of  operating  expenses  to  run  the system.

*****

APPENDIX-I REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3611 BY SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE, SHRI  BHARTRUHARI  MAHTAB  AND  SHRI  RAHUL  SHEWALE  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  02.01.2019  REGARDING SHORTFALL IN REVENUE

(a)and (b) Zone-wise Revenue earned under Passenger vis-à-vis respective Target during the last three years and current year are as under:

## ( ₹ in crore)

| Zonal Railway      | (Passenger) 2015-16   | (Passenger) 2015-16   | (Passenger) 2015-16                         | (Passenger) 2016-17   | (Passenger) 2016-17   | (Passenger) 2016-17                         | (Passenger) 2016-17   | (Passenger) 2017-18   | (Passenger) 2017-18                         | (Passenger) 2017-18   | (Passenger) 2018-19                 | (Passenger) 2018-19     | (Passenger) 2018-19                         |
|--------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Zonal Railway      | Revised Estimate s    | Actual                | Variation of Actual over Revised Estimate s | Revised Estimate s    | Actual                | Variation of Actual over Revised Estimate s | Revised Estimate s    | Actual                | Variation of Actual over Revised Estimate s | Budget Estimate s     | Budget Proportio n to end of Nov/18 | Actual to end of Nov/18 | Variation of Actual over Budget Proportio n |
| Central            | 5216.00               | 4929.52               | -286.48                                     | 5313.56               | 5045.29               | -268.27                                     | 5550.00               | 5368.91               | -181.09                                     | 5707.61               | 3706.47                             | 3737.34                 | 30.87                                       |
| Eastern            | 2086.44               | 2106.97               | 20.53                                       | 2298.94               | 2232.32               | -66.62                                      | 2345.75               | 2279.63               | -66.12                                      | 2433.50               | 1628.43                             | 1568.18                 | -60.25                                      |
| East Central       | 2189.37               | 2220.29               | 30.92                                       | 2442.26               | 2334.38               | -107.88                                     | 2456.58               | 2412.87               | -43.71                                      | 2598.48               | 1770.19                             | 1701.21                 | -68.98                                      |
| East Coast         | 1269.39               | 1245.99               | -23.40                                      | 1337.91               | 1306.11               | -31.80                                      | 1430.36               | 1411.34               | -19.02                                      | 1483.87               | 997.30                              | 1015.86                 | 18.56                                       |
| Northern           | 6643.09               | 5912.20               | -730.89                                     | 6582.48               | 6321.10               | -261.38                                     | 6670.94               | 6357.20               | -313.74                                     | 6950.48               | 4690.48                             | 4351.50                 | -338.98                                     |
| North Central      | 4051.46               | 4301.13               | 249.67                                      | 4599.00               | 4428.08               | -170.92                                     | 4900.00               | 4755.98               | -144.02                                     | 5043.29               | 3309.28                             | 3276.12                 | -33.16                                      |
| North Eastern      | 1491.30               | 1473.55               | -17.75                                      | 1452.19               | 1500.66               | 48.47                                       | 1600.00               | 1542.88               | -57.12                                      | 1659.85               | 1135.23                             | 1088.01                 | -47.22                                      |
| Northeast Frontier | 1000.00               | 1016.27               | 16.27                                       | 1134.95               | 1155.74               | 20.79                                       | 1160.00               | 1178.18               | 18.18                                       | 1203.39               | 778.27                              | 897.16                  | 118.89                                      |
| North Western      | 1800.24               | 1801.66               | 1.42                                        | 1969.98               | 1929.28               | -40.70                                      | 2096.52               | 2004.03               | -92.49                                      | 2174.95               | 1457.43                             | 1407.77                 | -49.66                                      |
| Southern           | 3953.72               | 3858.67               | -95.05                                      | 4198.20               | 4011.80               | -186.40                                     | 4380.00               | 4247.05               | -132.95                                     | 4553.84               | 3039.01                             | 2957.09                 | -81.92                                      |
| South Central      | 4265.00               | 4280.75               | 15.75                                       | 4608.40               | 4530.90               | -77.50                                      | 4994.62               | 4861.18               | -133.44                                     | 5181.45               | 3448.66                             | 3443.10                 | -5.56                                       |
| South Eastern      | 1502.94               | 1456.75               | -46.19                                      | 1594.09               | 1501.60               | -92.49                                      | 1635.00               | 1568.90               | -66.10                                      | 1676.15               | 1139.92                             | 1104.91                 | -35.01                                      |
| South East Central | 1013.63               | 1035.30               | 21.67                                       | 1099.83               | 1071.28               | -28.55                                      | 1164.66               | 1127.90               | -36.76                                      | 1208.22               | 801.55                              | 761.61                  | -39.94                                      |
| South Western      | 1500.00               | 1375.01               | -124.99                                     | 1517.56               | 1393.22               | -124.34                                     | 1530.00               | 1487.79               | -42.21                                      | 1604.59               | 1074.20                             | 1030.74                 | -43.46                                      |
| Western            | 4358.72               | 4232.14               | -126.58                                     | 4463.14               | 4327.55               | -135.59                                     | 4650.00               | 4541.46               | -108.54                                     | 4818.93               | 3172.24                             | 3125.78                 | -46.46                                      |
| West Central       | 2850.00               | 2857.58               | 7.58                                        | 3185.68               | 3004.41               | -181.27                                     | 3360.57               | 3304.26               | -56.31                                      | 3491.29               | 2295.00                             | 2298.47                 | 3.47                                        |
| Metro              | 184.85                | 179.48                | -5.37                                       | 201.83                | 186.74                | -15.09                                      | 200.00                | 193.58                | -6.42                                       | 210.11                | 139.23                              | 135.29                  | -3.94                                       |
| TOTAL              | 45376.15              | 44283.26              | -1092.89                                    | 48000.00              | 46280.46              | -1719.54                                    | 50125.00              | 48643.14              | -1481.86                                    | 52000.00              | 34582.89                            | 33900.14                | -682.75                                     |

APPENDIX-II REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3611 BY SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE, SHRI  BHARTRUHARI  MAHTAB  AND  SHRI  RAHUL  SHEWALE  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  02.01.2019  REGARDING SHORTFALL IN REVENUE

(a)and (b) Zone-wise Revenue earned under Freight vis-à-vis respective Target during the last three years and current year are as under:

( ₹ in crore)

| Zonal Railway      | (Freight) 2015-16   | (Freight) 2015-16   | (Freight) 2015-16                           | (Freight) 2016-17   | (Freight) 2016-17   | (Freight) 2016-17                           | (Freight) 2017-18   | (Freight) 2017-18   | (Freight) 2017-18                           | (Freight) 2017-18   | (Freight) 2018-19                   | (Freight) 2018-19       | (Freight) 2018-19                           |
|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Zonal Railway      | Revised Estimate s  | Actual              | Variation of Actual over Revised Estimate s | Revised Estimate s  | Actual              | Variation of Actual over Revised Estimate s | Revised Estimate s  | Actual              | Variation of Actual over Revised Estimate s | Budget Estimate s   | Budget Proportio n to end of Nov/18 | Actual to end of Nov/18 | Variation of Actual over Budget Proportio n |
| Central            | 7599.00             | 7354.87             | -244.13                                     | 7447.00             | 6695.42             | -751.58                                     | 7500.00             | 7330.06             | -169.94                                     | 7784.04             | 4876.31                             | 5041.07                 | 164.76                                      |
| Eastern            | 3458.34             | 3649.15             | 190.81                                      | 3723.96             | 4049.99             | 326.03                                      | 4500.00             | 4519.77             | 19.77                                       | 4680.43             | 2948.92                             | 2455.96                 | -492.96                                     |
| East Central       | 8786.46             | 8558.99             | -227.47                                     | 8681.12             | 8302.24             | -378.88                                     | 9140.00             | 9974.88             | 834.88                                      | 9486.14             | 6055.75                             | 5826.65                 | -229.10                                     |
| East Coast         | 12381.86            | 12290.90            | -90.96                                      | 14201.96            | 13263.88            | -938.08                                     | 14900.00            | 15135.17            | 235.17                                      | 15464.28            | 9838.14                             | 8994.33                 | -843.81                                     |
| Northern           | 7186.49             | 7191.59             | 5.10                                        | 7372.20             | 6697.96             | -674.24                                     | 7000.00             | 7075.38             | 75.38                                       | 7165.11             | 4632.37                             | 4635.40                 | 3.03                                        |
| North Central      | 9880.61             | 9321.97             | -558.64                                     | 8595.44             | 8490.48             | -104.96                                     | 10000.00            | 10344.71            | 344.71                                      | 10456.66            | 6651.76                             | 5942.05                 | -709.71                                     |
| North Eastern      | 1289.34             | 1321.13             | 31.79                                       | 1440.09             | 1409.23             | -30.86                                      | 1650.00             | 1576.47             | -73.53                                      | 1712.49             | 1081.26                             | 995.93                  | -85.33                                      |
| Northeast Frontier | 1650.00             | 1930.89             | 280.89                                      | 1980.00             | 1918.66             | -61.34                                      | 1940.00             | 2075.99             | 135.99                                      | 2000.00             | 1237.44                             | 1170.87                 | -66.57                                      |
| North Western      | 5381.24             | 4772.78             | -608.46                                     | 4778.23             | 4465.17             | -313.06                                     | 4800.00             | 4626.60             | -173.40                                     | 4981.79             | 3333.31                             | 3045.36                 | -287.95                                     |
| Southern           | 2857.04             | 2816.17             | -40.87                                      | 2682.87             | 2615.32             | -67.55                                      | 2850.00             | 2693.88             | -156.12                                     | 2930.00             | 1874.54                             | 1963.22                 | 88.68                                       |
| South Central      | 10605.00            | 10145.43            | -459.57                                     | 9847.22             | 9366.99             | -480.23                                     | 10800.00            | 10841.24            | 41.24                                       | 11212.49            | 7056.10                             | 7382.51                 | 326.41                                      |
| South Eastern      | 10448.57            | 10558.34            | 109.77                                      | 10892.15            | 10899.96            | 7.81                                        | 12550.00            | 12007.81            | -542.19                                     | 13025.32            | 8432.40                             | 7987.81                 | -444.59                                     |
| South East Central | 11124.77            | 10932.29            | -192.48                                     | 10996.79            | 10671.80            | -324.99                                     | 12110.00            | 11762.00            | -348.00                                     | 12568.63            | 8062.11                             | 7830.97                 | -231.14                                     |
| South Western      | 2960.00             | 3000.64             | 40.64                                       | 2935.95             | 2792.27             | -143.68                                     | 3160.00             | 2978.93             | -181.07                                     | 3279.68             | 2114.18                             | 1730.47                 | -383.71                                     |
| Western            | 8069.00             | 7597.29             | -471.71                                     | 6597.76             | 6100.69             | -497.07                                     | 6800.00             | 6691.54             | -108.46                                     | 7057.53             | 4601.48                             | 4569.12                 | -32.36                                      |
| West Central       | 8175.00             | 7765.22             | -409.78                                     | 6727.26             | 6598.48             | -128.78                                     | 7800.00             | 7420.97             | -379.03                                     | 8145.41             | 5170.00                             | 5466.41                 | 296.41                                      |
| Metro              | 0.00                | 0.00                | 0.00                                        | 0.00                | 0.00                | 0.00                                        | 0.00                | 0.00                | 0.00                                        | 0.00                | 0.00                                | 0.00                    | 0.00                                        |
| TOTAL              | 111852.72           | 109207.65           | -2645.07                                    | 108900.00           | 104338.54           | -4561.46                                    | 117500.00           | 117055.40           | -444.60                                     | 121950.00           | 77966.07                            | 75038.13                | -2927.94                                    |