Railways faces CAG heat on passenger fare, deteriorating operating ratio

Even without this, the Operating Ratio during 2016-17 had deteriorated to an all-time low since 2000-01, when it was 98.34%

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report said on Tuesday that the operating ratio of Indian Railways during the financial year 2016-17 would have further deteriorated to 99.54 per cent against the reported 96.5 per cent, had the actual amount of Rs 400.25 billion towards pension payments been incorporated in its accounts instead of Rs 350 billion. 

Batting for a passenger fare hike, the report criticised that there is hardly any justification for not fully recovering the cost of passenger services in case of AC 1st Class, First Class and AC 2-Tier.  “Operating Ratio of 96.50 per cent