Railways' revenue rises 7.95 per cent to Rs86,644 crore in 2009-10

The Indian Railways generated revenues of around Rs86,644.43 crore on an originating basis during the financial year (April-March 2009-10), against Rs80,264.60 crore during the previous fiscal 2008-09, registering an increase of 7.95 per cent.

Total earnings from goods traffic have gone up to Rs5,861.05 crore during 2009-2010, from Rs54,132.76 crore during the previous financial year (2008-2009) - an increase of 7.63 per cent.

Revenue from passenger traffic during the financial year 2009-10 rose to Rs23,751.38 crore from Rs21,978.34 crore during fiscal 2008-09 - an increase of 8.07 per cent.

Ina statement issued on Friday, the railway ministry categorically said that wagons were never in shortage for coal loading. It said the Railways, in fact, reported a more than seven per cent increase in coal loading in the year 2009-10. The growth in overall freight loading is estimated at 6.5 per cent year-on-year.

The Railways surpassed its original budgeted target of 882 million tonnes of freight loading for the year 2009-10, it said.

Railways achieved a coal loading of approximately 179 rakes a day in March 2010 for CIL. "This has been achieved despite inclement foggy weather conditions in January 2010 in northern region and deteriorating law and order situation in the eastern states which hampered Railways' operations substantially," the release noted.