IR registers remarkable increase in passenger segment revenue

In a notable development, IR’s passenger segment revenue generated in the second quarter of the current fiscal (July 2021 to September 2021) stood at Rs 105.13 billion, 113 per cent higher than the earnings (from passenger segment) from the first quarter (April 2021 to June 2021) (Rs 49.21 billion). This is on account of relaxation of the restrictions imposed due to Covid-19, and the onset of the festive season. With the easing of the Covid-19 triggered lockdown, IR is operating only special trains. Long-distance trains and short-distance passenger trains are being operated as special trains with slightly higher fares to discourage people from avoidable travel. IR is operating 1,402 mail express trains at normal charges and 323 holiday special trains at the usual higher charges. So far, IR has restored 96 per cent of the trains that were operational during pre-Covid times. Meanwhile, the revenue generated from freight trains in the second quarter of 2021-22 stood at Rs 321.02 billion, 3.43 per cent lower than the revenue generated from freight trains in the first quarter of 2021-22 (Rs 332.42 billion).