Pedestrian Railways

THE performance of the Railways last year, as disclosed by the new Railway Minister, Ram Subhag Singh, in his Budget speech, is uninspiring. Gross traffic receipts show an increase of about Rs 10 crores over the budget estimates of Rs 893 crores. This increase has been more than neutralised, however, by a rise of Rs 21 crores over the budgeted expenditure of Rs 724 crores. The surplus was thus reduced to Rs 157 crores against the budget estimate of Rs 168 crores for the year. Net revenue, after allowing for miscellaneous receipts and expenditure, is placed at Rs 141 crores against the budget estimate of Rs 152 crores. The Railways have, therefore, again had to draw Rs 10 crores from reserves to cover the 'dividend' to general revenues of Rs 151 crores.