Railways take steps to increase earnings
	17:15 IST

Lok Sabha Railways have introduced a number of schemes like a slew of Freight Incentive Scheme this year for attracting more rail traffic like: Traditional Empty Flow Direction (30% discount), loading Bagged Consignment in BOXN (40% discount), Long term Special Incentive Scheme (20% concession), Incremental Traffic (15% discount), Lump sum Special Rates and Service Level Agreement, Freight Forwarders, Two Leg Freight Concession (15% in busy season and 20% in lean season). Besides, Ministry of Railways has been considering individual proposal for grant of Freight Concession in Freight Rates to tap traffic.  Few proposals are; 30% concession of booking of Iron-ore, 50% concession for rice traffic, 15% concession for timber waste and 13% concession on movement of gunny bale or jute traffic. For passenger traffic, steps taken to increase the earnings are; Generating additional seating capacity in trains by introducing new trains, reduction of fare of Ist AC and 2nd AC, attaching additional coaches to clear wait listed passengers and introduction of up gradation scheme to upgrade full fare paying passenger to next higher class against available accommodation. As a result of above schemes Freight and Passenger earning is likely to be increased by 14% during the current year i.e. 2007-08. The earning from Passenger and Goods traffic during the last three years is as under: Year                 Passenger                     Goods 2004-05 14112.54                       30778.40 2005-06 15126.00                       36286.97 2006-07 17224.56                       41716.50 This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri R.Velu in written reply to a question in the Lok  Sabha today. AKS/HK/CK/TR