Banking on increased freight haul and earnings from upper class travellers, Indian Railways has projected a gross earning of Rs 43,445 crore (Rs 434.45 billion) in 2003-04.

The total earnings (excluding reciepts from Kolkata metro) for 2003-04 shows a mere five per cent increase from the revised estimate of Rs 41284 crore (Rs 412.84 billion) for this fiscal, even as earnings from the upper class were estimated to rise by over 16 per cent from this year's revised estimates, the Railway Budget said.

The estimated Rs 27815 crore (Rs 278.15 billion) earnings from goods, which comprises 64 per cent of the total earnings, is, however, a mere over four per cent increase from the previous year's revised estimate of Rs 26,658 crore (Rs 266.58 billion).

The total earning from passengers was budgeted at Rs 13620 crore (Rs 136.2 billion) for the next fiscal, which is near seven per cent rise from the revised figure of Rs 12730 crore for 2002-03.

The earnings from the upper class travellers has been estimated to increase by over 16 per cent to Rs 3035.85 crore (Rs 30.36 billion) in 2003-04 as compared to the revised figure of Rs 2602.63 crore (Rs 26.03 billion).

The railways estimate to mop up Rs 10584.15 crore (Rs 105.84 billion) from the passengers travelling in second class for the next fiscal, which shows over four per cent increase from the revised estimate of Rs 10127.37 crore (RS 101.27 billion) in 2002-03.

Earnings from the other coaching services is estimated at Rs 1020 crore (Rs 10.20 billion) for the next financial year as compared to the revised estimte of Rs 950 crore (Rs 9.5 billion) in 2002-03.

Sundry earnings is estimated at Rs 990 crore (Rs 9.9 billion) for 2003-04 as compared to the revised estimate of Rs 946 crore (Rs 9.46 billion) in this fiscal.

PTI