Question : SHORTFALL OF REVENUE

(a) whether the revenue shortfall in the Railways has been continuously widening;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; along with the reaction of the Railways thereto;

(c) whether the said shortfall has slowed down the work relating to safety, repairing, replacement of assets etc. in the Railways;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures taken/being taken by the Railways in this regard; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways to generate revenues from other sources than passenger/freight segments?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 129 BY SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI, SHRI ANAND PRAKASH PARANJPE, SHRI P. KUMAR, SHRI EKNATH M. GAIKWAD, SHRI B. B. PATIL, SHRI R. THAMARAISELVAN AND SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.12.2013 REGARDING SHORTFALL OF REVENUE.

(a): No, Madam. The resource position of Railways has been improving steadily since 2009-10. While there were shortfall in achievement of earnings targets, generation of internal resources increased from `2,228 crore in 2009-10 to `20,707 crore in 2013-14 (Budget Estimate).

(b): Does not arise.

(c)&(d): No, Madam. The expenditure on activities related to safety, replacement of assets, capacity expansion and modernisation has increased over the years significantly on the overall basis. It has increased from `30,662 cr. in 2009-10 to `41,112 cr. in 2013-14 (Budget Estimate), even though the Railways have ensured that expenditure matches availability of resources.

(e): Increasing thrust is being laid on attracting investment in rail infrastructure through the private sector besides scrap sales, higher dividend from PSUs, advertisement, publicity, revision of licence fees/rates/rent of sidings, parking, catering, parcel services etc. Efforts are also afoot to commercially utilize surplus railway land and also station buildings.