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While stressing on the need to improve suburban train services, the CAG has recommended minimising operational costs and generating revenue by rationalising services.
The auditor’s report, ‘Suburban train services in Indian Railways’, tabled in Lok Sabha, noted the revenue losses for suburban segment for 2013-14.
“The revenue loss in suburban section for railways is at ₹4,027 crore in 2013-14. But the loss on these segments for 2014-15 is recorded at a lower amount of ₹793 crore as it does not include data for Central Railways, Eastern Railways, Southern Railways and Western Railways, as per the report,” it said. Operating ratios for all suburban services are over 100, which means there are loss-making suburban segments as well.
Data not shared The report states that the Railway Board did not share data on energy saved due to introduction of energy-efficient coaches in the suburban segment.
In Railway Budget 2013, it was announced that energy efficient electric locomotives and electric multiple units would be deployed in Central Railways and Western Railways.
The Railway Board, in its reply, stated that 372 energy efficient coaches have been inducted into passenger services in Mumbai area during 2014-15 and 2015-16.
“The balance 492 coaches will be inducted in 2016-17. However, the Railway Board has not provided data in respect of saving of energy with financial impact as a result of introducing these coaches,” stated CAG.
On the need to lower costs, it has said there is a need to identify areas for minimising operational costs of suburban train services. It has also called for generating revenue through rationalisation of services.
On the service improvement front, it has recommended enhancement of carrying capacity of electrical multiple unit rakes, increasing frequencies of suburban train services and effective action to operate train services as per time schedule, maintaining punctuality to ease overcrowding and accidental deaths.
It has called for expediting works relating to capacity augmentation such as elimination of level crossings, withdrawal of speed restrictions, removal of encroachments, especially in safety zone, introduction of new coaches new coaches and replacement of over-aged rolling stock.
Separate organisation Additionally, it has recommended establishing a separate organisational set-up for the suburban train services to increase organisational efficiencies in concerned zones.
On punctuality, CAG stated that though punctuality of suburban train services was maintained as per the Railway Board’s target, it was showing a declining trend in CR and SR during the review period 2010-15.
Speed restrictions result in longer running time of trains. It was observed that permanent speed restrictions on suburban sections of Indian Railways increased from 2010-11 to 2014-15.
The main reasons for imposing speed restriction were poor track conditions, existence of level crossings, weak bridges and encroachments along the track.
Indian Railways failed to initiate effective remedial measures to withdraw speed restrictions.
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