"Cases of excessive detentions of wagons at various activity centres affecting the availability of wagons, non- availability of locomotives for running the goods trains and deterioration in average speed of goods trains point towards a monitoring mechanism that warrants streamlining," CAG has said in its latest report tabled in Parliament today.
Delay in induction of the 15,815 wagons in the railway system led to an avoidable loss of earning capacity of Rs 1,635.67 crore in seven zonal railways, it said.
The operation of goods trains depends largely on the adequate availability of required rolling stock, crew and appropriate paths for movement of goods trains, maintaining the rolling stock in good condition by facilitating timely repair and maintenance and ensuring optimum utilization of locos/wagons by achieving reduction in turn-around time.
The national auditor, in its report covering performance of freight train operations during the period 2008-13, has found the requirement of rolling stock assessed did not have any input from the zonal railways, the ultimate user.
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It was also observed that even the ordered quantity of wagons was not supplied in full by the railway production units and public sector wagon manufacturers and the shortfall in wagon manufacturing was 36 and 24 per cent respectively.
Funds provided for procurement of wagons were not utilised resulting in savings in all the years except for 2011-12. Principal lease payment of Rs 5514 crore made to Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) from capital led to the railways bearing an additional dividend liability of Rs 221 crore, the audit said.