ECONOMY
Why taking a train could soon become an expensive affair
Indian Railways’ passenger fares have always been heavily subsidised. And while passenger revenue has been hit with Covid crippling operations, even freight fares, which offset the lower passenger fares, have been reduced.
BUSINESS
IRSDC MD Lohia defends 'user fee' for stations, says infrastructure can only be developed if passengers pay
The railways has turned to private players to redevelop stations and wants to bid out at least 50 stations by March 2021. How will the plan work out and what about the user charge that is facing opposition? IRSDC MD and CEO Sanjeev Kumar Lohia answers these questions and more
BUSINESS
Indian Railways: 14% newly commissioned diesel locos failed within 100 days, not enough LHB coaches manufactured, says CAG
Defective material in loco manufacturing, bad workmanship main reasons. CAG also pulls up Railways on LHB coaches. A committee had recommended a switchover to the manufacture of these coaches by 2012. However, it came into effect only from April 1, 2018.
BUSINESS
Why the CAG found Indian Railways' finances in a sorry state
The CAG peeked through Indian Railways’ window and found it was dressing up numbers. Including advance freight earnings has done little to tackle the national transporter’s continuing pain. Internal resource generation has dwindled and dependence on borrowings is rising
BUSINESS
Private trains: Now, a single bidder can win all 12 train clusters
When the initial norms for private train operations were laid out in July, Indian Railways had specified that a single bidder cannot win more than three clusters. Two months down the line, the cap on the number of clusters has been eased, in what may be an indication of a tepid response to the auction.
BUSINESS
With only 2% of passenger trains running, Indian Railways’ July earnings down to a tenth of last year
Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav expects a passenger earnings shortfall of up to Rs 40,000 crore in FY21; transporter shifts focus to freight loading to bridge the deficit.
ECONOMY
Indian Railways' Private Trains Project: Why a regulator is critical before companies come forward to operate trains
Uppermost in the minds of many potential bidders is getting the Indian Railways to establish a resolution mechanism for resolving future disputes on fares, service standards and other operational parameters, when it offers some of the trains to private operators.
