ADDITIONAL REVENUE GENERATION:- AN UPHILL TASK FOR IR
(1) IR is trying to collect more revenue from pax (50000Cr to 56000Cr in 2 years) by introducing more premium trains with higher fares like Tejas, is not likely to be successful. Success of these trains is possible if the surcharge is kept within reasonable limits.
(2) Proposal of attaching more and more ACIII coaches in existing trains which are in very high in demand and give maximum profits to IR is commendable.
(3) Boosting...
more... non-fare revenues (advertising and monetisation of rail assets) is the grey area with huge potential, but IR has so far achieved limited success in this area. Innovative Marketing skills are required to tap this highly potent source.
(4) With revenue prospects from bulk coal transport (the main stay of IR revenue) getting dried up, introduction of RORO, Rail-Roader on a large scale is necessary to tap high value unconventional freight.
(5) Long term plan to rationalize non ac fare step by step like raising fare by 1.5-2% per month for next few years so that the subsidy goes down to a manageable level. Such increment has been done previously by Govt. in price of Diesel/Petrol. Similarly such step by step proce rise could be affected in AC classes to take care of inflation and to ensure reasonable profits from these classes.
(6) Prioritisation & quick commissioning of profitable projects, and going slow on loss making ones, is necessary to boost revenue of IR in coming years.