On Sunday, August 22, Union Minister Raosaheb Danve said that the Indian Railways have suffered losses to the tune of INR 36,000 crores during the coronavirus pandemic.
Danve also mentioned that goods trains are the real revenue generators for the Railways. At the time of crisis, these trains played an important role in carrying goods and providing relief to people.
The Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of an underbridge at the Jalna railway station.
While talking to the media, Danve said: “The passenger train segment always runs into losses. Since increasing the ticket fares affects the passengers, we cannot do so. During the pandemic, the Railways suffered losses of INR 36,000 crores.”
He also highlighted that a bullet train project will be developed along the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway and is currently under construction.
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The Railways has undertaken the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor project, which will connect Navi Mumbai to Delhi, Danve added.
Last month, Indian Railways had stated that it had improved its operating ratio to 97.45 per cent owing to no concessions and tightening of expenses due to COVID-19. It also said that it has no plans to restore concessions offered to certain categories of people in ticket fares which was initially suspended due to the pandemic.