Railways profit to reach 20,000 crore this year

Jaipur, Jan 18 (UNI) Minister of state for Railways R Velu said the Indian Railways profit for the current financial year would cross 20,000 crore.

Talking to newsmen here today the minister said ''the Railways had recorded a profit of Rs 13,000 crore last year and profit likely to touch Rs 20,000 crore in the current financial year. The laudable aspect of this achievement is that this has achieved through reducing the operational cost''.

The minister said the Railways has accorded top priority to enhance the passenger facility by coining the slogan of ''serving the passenger with smile'' and has alloted Rs 356 crore for enhancing the passenger amenities at the railway stations. He said amount in this head would be increased to 440 crore for the upgradation of general facilities in the coming year.

He said in this direction the railways has decided to develop 528 railway stations as model stations and work is in progress.

Asnwering a question Mr Velu said the railways has in principle adopted a 'unigauge policy' and all the existing meter gauge lanes would be converted in to broadgauge in a phased manner.

Earlier addresing a national technical seminar organised by the Institution of Permanent Way Engineers (India) here, Mr Velu said Railways has decided to increase the carrying capacity freight wagons to 25/30 tonne on the existing infrastructure on selected routes to augument its freight capacity and optimisation of existing infrastructure.

North-West Railway regional manager S B Bhattacharya was also present on the occasion.

UNI