The Hindu Business Line : Railways' Apr-Aug earnings up 16%

Indian Railways registered a 15.77 per cent growth in total earnings during April-August 2006 touching Rs 24,576.87 crore compared to Rs 21,229 crore during the same period last year. The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs 14,201.5 crore to Rs 16,540 crore during the period registering an increase of 16.47 per cent, said an official release. The total passenger revenue earnings during the five-month period registered a relatively lower 11.72 per cent growth touching Rs 7,082.04 crore compared to Rs 6,339.23 crore during the same period last year. The revenue earnings from other coaching activities went up by a whopping 37.82 per cent touching Rs 654.68 crore against Rs 475.02 crore during the same period last year. The total sundry earnings have also gone up from Rs 213.25 crore during Apr - Aug 2005 to Rs 300.15 crore during Apr-Aug 2006, an increase of 40.75 per cent, it said. The total number of passengers booked during the period was at 262.035 crore compared to 241.455 crore during the same period last year, showing an increase of 8.52 per cent.