NF Rly earns Rs 684 cr last fiscal

GUWAHATI, July 23: Despite perennial insurgency, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NF Rly) has earned Rs 684.04 crore during 1999-2000. Out of Rs 684.04 crore, the Frontier has generated Rs 432.27 crore and Rs 184.99 crore from goods and passengers respectively. According to official statistics, earnings of the previous year (1998/99) stood at Rs 592.27 crore as against the financial target of Rs 544.05 crore. Sources said that due to suspension of night-running trains in the wake of spurt in activities of the insurgent groups particularly in Lower Assam, the overall earnings had gone down to some extent. The results could have been much better if night-running trains had not been stopped in two spells for about five months, sources observed. Railway tracks have remained soft targets of insurgent groups till last year from frequent bomb blasts triggered by militants. But, after declaration of ceasefire against the BLT, subversive activities are on the wane. During the period, there were eight cases of bomb blasts and eight incidents of sabotage which adversely affected the performance of the railway. Sources, however, said in spite of militancy and frequent bandhs called by various organisations, NF Rly has achieved almost all targets fixed by the authorities. "We have geared up security arrangements in Lower Assam in several sensitive areas to cope with militant threat," sources stated. They also revealed that the railway has realised a huge amount from the ticketless travellers by conducting frequent operations in different trains. 'Earnings from penalties imposed on ticketless travellers have recorded an increase of 10 per cent over last year which indicates that the number of ticketless travellers are also increasing gradually' they said, adding in view of prevailing situation, authorities have taken up several measures. NF Rly has set a target of Rs 707.80 crore in 2000-2001 financial year and during the past two months, it has crossed the proportionate target by about Rs 2.5 crore.