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The Railway Board recently came out with figures highlighting the financial performance of the Indian Railways in 2010-11.
As always, there was thumping of chest for improved performance.
One hoped that the board would also publish freight traffic figures for the period. But that did not happen. Inquiries revealed that the freight figures were yet to be ready. This came as a surprise to many. The zonal railways individually have started publishing their respective performances, also releasing the freight traffic figures.
Traffic figures?
How come the Rail Board is still not in a position to finalise the all-India freight traffic figures? More important, how could the board authorities work out the financial performance figures without finalising the freight traffic figures?
Does not the financial performance depend also on the volume of originating freight traffic handled by the railways?
Lastly, the freight traffic target for 2010-11 was scaled down from the original 944 million tonnes to 924 mt?
If the Railways post higher earning on lower volumes, it means the freight rates were hiked outside the budget, a common practice by successive railway ministers.
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