SAFETY SURCHARGE ON RAILWAY FARES
RAJYA SABHA
A non-lapsable Special
Railway Safety Fund (SRSF) of Rs. 17,000 crores has been created
from October 1, 2001 for a period of six years to wipe out arrears
of replacement of over aged safety related assets of the Railways.
The Railways’ contribution to this Fund, which is to be around
Rs. 5,000 crores is to be raised through the levy of a Safety
Surcharge on passenger fares with effect from October 1, 2001.
To end of March,
2003, Railways have cumulatively collected Rs. 907 crores as surcharge
against a budgeted amount of Rs. 1,260 crores. The shortfall in
collection has been made good from Railways’ internal revenues.
Budget Estimates, 2003-2004 envisage a surcharge collection of
Rs. 710 crores.
This information
was given by the Railway Minister Shri Nitish Kumar in reply to
a question from Dr. Abrar Ahmed and Smt. Ambika Soni in the Rajya
Sabha today.
