Earnings - Comptroller and Auditor General of India

Report No.6 of 2006 (Railways)commercial viability of introduction of six pairs of trains for the proposedBelur Math Station was based on the assumption of passenger traffic but statedthat since no definite yardstick has been laid down, the justification was madeon a general study of passenger flow between Belur and Howrah andcompetitive facilities of rail and road. The Railway Administration alsoclaimed that SAIL despatches inward traffic i.e. the same consignments (thatused to be handled at G.T. Road Siding) to Janai Road Siding and GoodsOffice at Shalimar over South Eastern Railway. So it is a matter of diversionof traffic rather than loss to Railway. The number of wagons (inward) for steelconsignment at Janai Road Siding has gone up by 28.6 per cent.The reply is not acceptable. Though results of Commercial Survey shouldform the basis for introduction of new service, the justification made on mereassumption was formalised prior to submission of the survey report whichclearly indicated that the passenger traffic between Howrah and Belur Mathstation would be negligible in view of available frequent and more economicalbus services. Moreover, the EMU service between Howrah and Belur Mathwas introduced to capture additional passenger traffic (Pilgrim and touristtraffic to Belur Math) diverted from road and was not aimed at facilitating thejourney of passengers from Liluah to Howrah as there were already 187 trains(DN direction alone) for passenger traffic of Liluah. In fact, a comparison offigures of passengers originating from Liluah (Liluah - Howrah segment)before and after introduction of these train services shows negative growth. Inaddition, Audit noticed that in G. T. Road siding at Belur, earnings for the year2002-03 (upto February 2003) were Rs.3.13 crore whereas the comparativestatement of earnings of Janai Road Siding reveals that the earnings for theyear 2003-04 had come down to Rs.0.32 crore from Rs.0.36 crore in 2002-03.This trend indicates that the consignments handled by G. T. Road siding hadnot been diverted to Janai Road. The Railway Administration also failed tofurnish evidence of diversion of traffic to Shalimar. Railway Administrationhave also remained silent about consignees, other than SAIL, who also usedG.T. Road Siding and contributed to Railway’s earnings.The matter was taken up with the Railway Board in September 2005. Theirreply has not been received so far (December 2005).2.1.8 South Central: Loss of earnings due to supply of defectiveRailway wagons for loadingRailway Administration’ failure to make covered wagons fit for loadingresulted in their rejection and consequential loss of earnings of Rs.3.96 croreFacilities exist for intensive examination of wagons on each Zonal Railway soas to offer only fit wagons to the indentors. Even after the wagon is clearedfor use by the Operating Department, some minor defects may develop duringuse. To deal with such defects para 1509 (b) and (c) of Indian RailwayCommercial Manual (Vol.-II) provides that when a covered wagon is found tobe defective, steps should be taken to get it repaired by Train Examiner (TXR)Staff before their loading and, in their absence, the Commercial staff arerequired to plug the holes and make the wagons watertight with the aid of32