Railways surplus projected to increase by 28% in 2011-12

Indian Railways, the world's second largest public sector employer, expects surplus of revenue over expenditure to rise by over 28% to over Rs 5,258 crore next fiscal on the back of higher traffic receipts.

The surplus in 2011-12 is expected at Rs 5,258.41 crore, a growth of 28.11% over the revised estimate of Rs 4,104.50 crore for the current year, according to the Railway Budget 2011-12 presented in Parliament today.

This increase in surplus is expected on account of greater gross traffic receipts.

Gross traffic receipts are projected to be Rs 1,06,239 crore in the next fiscal, up 12.02% from the revised estimate of Rs 94,840.44 crore in 2010-11.

According to the Budget presented by Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, the total receipts of the Indian Railways is also to witness an increase of 12.6% in 2011-12 at Rs 1,09,393.13 crore. This is against a revised projection of Rs 97,151.20 crore for the current fiscal.

As per the explanatory memorandum of Railway Budget, the total working expenses of her ministry in FY12 will be Rs 96,450 crore.

This is an increase of 10.61% over the revised figure of Rs 87,200 crore in the current fiscal.

The total expenditure of Railways is stated to go up by 10.6% during the next fiscal to Rs 97,400 crore. The revised total expenditure for the current fiscal is Rs 88,129.34 crore.

As per the Minister, the operating ratio of the Railways will come down to 91.1% 2011-12, from the 92.1% revised estimate made for 2010-11.

Presenting the Railway Budget, Banerjee had said that there will be no hike in passenger fare and freight rates.

The budget for next year proposes to have the highest ever Plan outlay of Rs 57,630 crore, with Rs. 9,583 crore provided for new  Railway lines.

The minister announced 1300 km of new lines, 867 km doubling of lines and 1017 km gauge conversion as target in 2011-12.

She also announced introduction of 56 new Express Trains, three new Shatabdis and nine Duronto trains.