Title - Railways misses passenger, freight earning target

New Delhi: Railways have failed to meet its target in passenger and freight earnings during the period of April to December, 2012.
   
The total passenger earnings during this period were Rs 23,025.36 crore as against the target of Rs 23,536.41 crore.
   
The earnings in passenger sector were 2.17 percent less than the target fixed by the Railways for the nine months in this fiscal.
   
However, after the recent fare hike, Railways is hopeful of meeting the total earning target by the end of fiscal 2012-13.
   
"There are still three months left in the current financial year and the recently announced hike will help in achieving the target in passenger earnings," a senior Railway Ministry official said. Passenger earnings have been fixed at Rs 36,073 crore for fiscal 2012-13.
   
The total goods earnings during April-December 2012 have also failed to meet the target by 3.89 percent. Railways earned Rs 62,413.41 crore from freight during the period as against the target of Rs 64,940.79 crore.
   
Railways have kept the freight earning target at Rs 89,339 crore for the current fiscal.