SATISH HANDA
In-spite of the fact unlock was declared by the government when Railways brought several trains on the railway tracks during COVID-19 in order to improve economic slow down which suffered heavy revenue loss worth Rs 34000 crore to railways during year 2020-21 (till January this year) as compared to the previous year 2019-20. Information reveals, target has been fixed by the Ministry of Railways to earn revenue worth Rs 6000 crore in all zones up to March 31, 2021 as such special trains were also introduced on all rail tracks across the country by railway administration.
According to data available with railways, drop about 6111 million passengers travelling in the trains was recorded during year 2020-21 (till month January) as compared to previous year 2019-20 due to less movement of trains as well as passengers travelling in the trains on all routes due to epidemic outbreak in the country. Information also reveals, 518.21 million passengers had reserved their tickets through Passenger Reservation Centre with effect from 1st April 2019 to 31st January 2020 in which railways earned revenue worth Rs 29003 crore, whereas the number of railway passengers booked tickets through Passengers Reservation Centre during the year 2020-21 reduced by 67.49% when railways earned revenue only Rs 8838 crore.
While having a look at the revenue collection of metro railway stations in the country, railways earned Rs 2443 crore in the year 2019-20 in which 3964 million passengers had travelled in the trains. Railway revenue collection reduced to Rs 293.03 crore in the year 2020-21 witnessing nearly 88.01% drop. Similarly, in non-urban areas revenue worth Rs 12792 crore was earned by the railways during the year 2019-20, which reduced to Rs 508.99 core in the year 2020-21 thus witnessing nearly 88.6% drop in revenue earnings.
According to a railway spokesman at Divisional Rail Manager office Ambala, Ministry of Railways has fixed a target to increase Rs 6000 crore extra revenue collection by the end of current financial year ending on March 31, 2021 to compensate losses incurred by railways due to KOVID-19 and introduced several Express special trains on different routes charging higher amount of fare.
