Railways’ earning from passenger traffic is estimated to rise by nearly 17 per cent to Rs 50,175 crore in the next financial year as it expects more number of passengers to travel longer distance.

The revenue from passenger traffic is expected to rise at Rs 43,002 crore in 2014-15 fiscal (revised estimate) from Rs 36,532.25 crore in the previous year, according to the Rail Budget document.

Out of the total revenue projection for next fiscal, the sleeper class (mail and express) would contribute the maximum Rs 13,338.90 crore, up from Rs 11,247.93 crore in this fiscal.

According to the document, 860 crore passengers are estimated to travel in the next fiscal, covering 1,18,446.5 crore kms. In the current fiscal, the passenger traffic is likely to be 835 crore, with coverage of 1,11,741.9 crore kms.

The earnings from second class (mail and express) has been projected to increase to Rs 12,707.05 crore in 2015-16 from Rs 10,716.45 crore in this fiscal.

Revenue from second class (ordinary) is likely to increase to Rs 8,907.89 crore in next fiscal from Rs 8,165.94 crore in the current year, while earning from AC-3 tier is estimated to rise at Rs 8,640.42 crore from Rs 7,285.09 crore during the period under review.

AC (sleeper) is estimated to contribute Rs 3,680.43 crore during next fiscal as against Rs 3,103.09 crore this year.

Revenue from AC (chair car) is also pegged higher at Rs 1,511.28 crore during the next fiscal from Rs 1,274.10 crore in the current financial year.

Meanwhile, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today kept passenger fares unchanged.

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