Lok Sabha Question No. 159 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-02
Subject: Decline in Revenues
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. Selvaraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 159 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2022

## DECLINE IN REVENUES

159.  SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the total earnings of Railways from goods and passengers have substantially declined as against the target and if so, the details thereof along with the revenue generated during the last three years, year-wise;
- (b) the reasons behind such a decline and the steps taken to perk up the earnings;
- (c) whether the reduction in revenue collection has had any adverse impact  on  any  of  the  Railways  activities  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the action taken to address the same; and
- (d) whether the introduction of a flexifare system and rationalisation of  freight  rates  have  improved  the  fiscal  deficit  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  THE UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  159  BY  SHRI  M.  SELVARAJ  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  02.02.2022  REGARDING  DECLINE  IN REVENUES.

(a)  to  (c):  In  the  current  year  to  end  of  December  2021,  the  total revenue  from  goods  and  passengers  are  short  of  the  proportionate budget  target  (BP)  by ` 13,811.20  cr.  However,  the  same  are  higher over  corresponding  period  of  previous  year  by ` 40,777.15  cr.  The shortfall against BP is mainly due to continuing adverse impact of the Covid  19  pandemic  on  passenger  services  despite  goods  revenue exceeding BP by ` 2,898.39 cr. The details of revenue generated in last three years are given below:

(

` in crore)

| S.No.   | Segments of railway    | 2018-19   | 2019-20   | 2020-21   |
|---------|------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|         | revenue                |           |           |           |
| 1       | Passenger Revenue      | 51067     | 50669     | 15248     |
| 2       | Other Coaching Revenue | 4474      | 4641      | 2097      |
| 3       | Goods revenue          | 127433    | 113488    | 117232    |
| 4       | Sundry other revenue   | 6996      | 5863      | 5939      |
| 5       | Total                  | 189970    | 174661    | 140516    |

The shortfall in revenue collection in the passenger segment has partly been  offset  through  enhanced  goods  revenue.  Further,  economy  and austerity  measures  have  been  adopted  to  minimize  expenditure  from railway  revenues  without  affecting  essential  expenditure  for  safe operation  of  trains.  Capex  of  railways  which  is  mostly  met  through Gross  Budgetary  Support  from  the  Government  and  Extra  Budgetary

Sources mobilized by Railways have not been affected by the shortfall in revenue. (d)  :  Flexi  fare  scheme  was  introduced  from  09.09.2016  in  Rajdhani, Shatabdi  and  Duronto  trains.  Further,  rationalization  of  freight  is  a continuous  process.  Both  these  have  contributed  in  generation  of additional revenue.

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