Indian Railways are worried as the passenger bookings in the country has fallen by 4% between the month of April and August. It has also raised attention over the rise passenger subsidy.
As per Indian Railways, 3,427.84 million passengers travelled by trains in the month of April and August while it was 3,575.30 million during the corresponding period last fiscal, a difference of 147.46 million, measuring a fall of 4.12 per cent.
The Indian Railways have earned Rs 19,394.75 crore in contrast to the target of 20,204.85 crore while it made a shortfall of4.95%.
Senior Railway Minister official said that he is worried over the decrease of 147 million passengers.
It is learned if the decline in passenger bookings is not sorted, passenger subsidy of Rs 29,000 crore a year now, may increase. Railway’s passenger operations are heavily cross-subsidised from freight business and any further decline in passenger earnings is a matter of serious concern for it.
However, the Indian Railways is optimistic about the boost in passenger bookings in this festive season.
Railway Official said, the situation will improve as many special trains are being planned keeping the festival season in mind.
Chairman Railway Board (CRB) AK Mital has written to all zonal railways to ascertain the reasons for it.
The fall has been noticed mostly in short journey and unreserved categories and could be attributed to ticket-less travel, an official said.
However, he said that the travel in long distance journey in reserve category has increased.
According to the Railway Ministry data, the public transporter could spend only Rs 17,000 crore of the quarterly planned expenditure against an allocation of more than Rs 1 lakh crore this fiscal.
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