Railway Board chief sees tougher days ahead
New Delhi, July 3 : The slowdown and an outgo of Rs.14,600 crore to pay arrears will make the going more difficult for the Railways this fiscal, a senior official said here Friday.
'Last year was difficult and this year is going to be more tough for us,' said Railway Board chairman S.S. Khurana after Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee presented the rail budget in the Lok Sabha Friday,
'The year 2009-10 imposes greater challenge for us. We have the burden of paying 60 percent of the arrears of employee salaries,' Khurana told reporters at Rail Bhawan, the seat of the Railways Ministry.
The Rs.14,600-crore outgo is to meet the recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission, he added.
Salaries account for about 45 percent of the ministry's expenses.
'The last two quarters were difficult for the railways as the growth in freight revenue fell below 2 percent and that is why we failed to achieve the target by Rs.2,500 crore,' Khurana said.
'However, we are looking at various measures to counter the challenges and achieve our target this year.'
--IANS
Three-year-old run over by water tanker
Fighting terrorism a key focus of Manmohan-Obama summit
Nokia to bid for Nortel assets
Chandigarh to compile data of absentees due to swine flu
Frustration creeps in, yet faith in Dalai Lama keeps Tibetans going
Folk healers want 'healing touch' of acceptance to continue
Buy Afghani almonds, pomegranates at trade fair
Four Mujib killers to seek president's pardon
India's all-female UN police unit inspires Liberians
'UN knows what Copenhagen failure can entail'
Sabarimala sells 1.2 lakh cans of prasadam daily
Pakistan claims India supports insurgents
Trial of Bangladesh border guard mutineers to begin Tuesday
Dolphin killed by poachers in Patna
Karnataka, its crisis, controversies and elections (Letter from Bangalore)
Three MoUs to foster innovation, research and training
India to promote tourism in Ladakh, Kargil
Iran's Revolutionary Guards to hold military manoeuvres
Argentine singer recovering after heart, lung transplant
I can proudly tell my kids Big B was my first child: Vidya Balan
Tibetan exiles to attend meet on environment
Sikh groups write to Obama, seek justice for 1984 victims
Twin blasts rocks Assam, five killed, 50 injured
Don't execute Mujib killers, Amnesty tells Dhaka
Raj Kundra shows off dancing skills at sangeet
Himachal-born child detected with polio in Uttar Pradesh
'Idiots' means 'I do it on my terms': Hirani
Mexico's economy contracts 6.2 percent in third quarter
A temple which welcomes only women
Bihar's junior doctors resume work
'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' earns USD 72.7 mn, breaks opening day record
Six fold hike in Indian businessmen settling in New Zealand
Three explosions in Assam, five killed, 50 injured
Pak involved in 26/11: CIA
China supports Indo-Pak talks
We know that we are loved: Travolta tells neighbours
My hips were not touched: Demi Moore
Amy Winehouse's puffing after the gym
Canada saved the India-US n-deal; it now needs to think beyond
Diners eat out of toilet bowls at novelty restaurant chain