The Indian Railways on Wednesday said it suffered an estimated loss of Rs 13,675 crore (Rs 136.75 billion) in the current fiscal on account of various social service obligations, including suburban and non-suburban services.
According to the explanatory memorandum of Budget released by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, the Railways is estimated to have suffered Rs 13,570 crore (Rs 135.70 billion) loss on 'coaching services', which includes suburban and non-urban passenger services, parcel and luggage, among others.
Besides, the railways incurred a loss of Rs 104 crore (Rs 1.04 billion) on essential commodities carried below cost of operation. The loss on account of carrying fruits and vegetable consignments at concessional rates worked out to Rs 73.27 crore (Rs 732.7 million), Rs 8.74 crore (Rs 87.4 million) on bamboo and Rs 7.37 crore (Rs 73.7 million) on paper, among others.
The Railways also suffered a huge Rs 732 crore (Rs 7.32 billion) on account of economically unviable branch lines.
Based on the recommendations of uneconomic Branch Line Committee, 1969, all narrow gauge lines and any lines that join the main line network at one end only are termed as branch line.
"A review of such lines during 2008-09 indicated that 100 branch lines were uneconomical and the Railways incurred a loss of about Rs 732 crore excluding dividend, on their account," the memorandum said.
