Railway Minister Nitish Kumar has projected a 6.4 per cent growth in gross traffic receipts at Rs 43,495 crore for 2003-04, despite leaving passenger fares untouched and marginally reducing freight through rationalisation.
He has, however, projected a 7 per cent growth in the total working expenses at Rs 40,850 crore for 2003-04. This has pulled down net traffic receipts by 2.5 per cent to Rs 2,645 crore.
An almost 90 per cent growth in miscellaneous receipts at Rs 887.66 crore has helped the Railways post net revenues of Rs 3,532.66 crore for 2003-04, 11 per cent higher than the revised estimates for 2002-03.
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The Railways have projected an 11 per cent higher dividend at Rs 2,932 crore for the next financial year, compared to Rs 2,637.4 crore paid in the current year.
Kumar has also provided Rs 50 crore for clearing the deferred dividend liability account.
The projected ratio of net revenue to capital-at-charge and the investment from the capital fund is also slightly better at 6.4 per cent for the next financial year compared to 6.2 per cent for 2002-03.
The Railways