(a) whether the Government have recently hiked the
railway freight rates and have also withdrawn subsidy on
essential commodities;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor
alongwith its impact on freight movement;
(c) the estimated additional revenue likely to be earned
therefrom;
(d) whether the Railways are still short of funds despite
increase in the rates; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the
Government to meet the shortage?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS(KUMARI MAMATA BANERJEE)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.263 BY SHRI JAIBHAN SINGH
PAWAIYA AND SHRIMATI. SHEELA GAUTAM TO BE ANSWERED ON
10.08.2000 REGARDING HIKE IN FREIGHT RATES.
(a) Ministry of Railways have increased the freight
rates as proposed in the Railway Budget 2000-2001. No
increase was however, made in freight rates of Urea and
certain essential commodities of mass consumption like
Kerosene, Foodgrains, LPG, Sugar, Edible Salt, Edible
Oils, Fruits & Vegetables.
(b) The freight rates of other commodities were
increased to generate additional earnings to meet the
increase in cost of inputs as well as to generate funds
for developmental projects. Freight traffic has shown
signs of improvement as would be evident from the fact
that Railways have loaded about 116.57 million tonnes
of revenue earning freight traffic during the period
from April,2000 to June, 2000 which is 8.61 million
tonnes more than the loading achieved in the same
period of last year. This loading is more by 2.12
million tonnes when compared to the proportionate
target for the period from April, 2000 to June,2000.
(c) The additional revenue was estimated at Rs.600 cr
(approximately) in 2000-2001, through hike in freight
rates, from Goods and Parcel services.
(d) & (e): The Railways expect to generate sufficient
revenues to meet all their working expenses including
pensionary liabilities arising out of the
implementation of 5th Pay Commission recommendations.
As has been done in earlier years, Ministry of Finance
have agreed this year for deferral of the payment of
dividend to the extent of Rs.1500 cr which will be paid
in later years. They have also agreed to provide a load
of Rs.249 cr from the General Exchequer for the
Railways’ Capital fund. The Railways propose to meet
the emerging requirement of funds through more
efficient operation, strict economy and austerity
measures and also by making efforts to generate
additional resources from non-traditional sources of
revenue.