IR registers positive revenue in passenger segment

As per reports, Indian Railways (IR) posted positive revenues in the passenger segment for the first time this year. The national carrier registered earnings of Rs 23.25 billion during July-September 2020. During the first three months (April-June) of the current financial year, IR had to suspend all its scheduled passenger operations due to the Covid-19-induced lockdown. As a result, IR refunded a higher amount than it earned from ticket bookings, registering negative passenger revenues of Rs 10.66 billion. However, the induction of over 800 trains increased the revenue generated to Rs 5.61 billion in July 2020, Rs 8.31 billion in August 2020 and Rs 9.34 billion in September 2020. Meanwhile, IR also suffered losses to the tune of Rs 20 billion in operating Shramik special trains, which commenced operations on May 1, 2020, to ferry stranded migrants.