The budgetary allocation for Indian Railways for the financial year 2024-25 is Rs 2.55 lakh crore. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 23 July, 2024 announced Union Budget. The allocation of Rs 2.5 lakh crore for FY25 is nearly five percent higher than last year.
A major chunk of expenditure comprises staff cost, which is estimated to be Rs 1.17 lakh crore for FY25. Fuel cost including diesel and electricity is set at Rs 10,817 crore and Rs 23,744 crore in FY25.
The total outlay provided for capital expenditure in budget estimate 2024-25 of Rs 2,65,200 crore includes Rs 2,52,000 crore from General Revenues, Rs 200 crore from Nirbhaya Fund, Rs 3000 crore from Internal Resource and Rs 10,000 crore from extra budgetary resources (EBR).
The total receipt of railways comprising revenues from passenger, goods, other coaching, sundry other heads and Railway Recruitment Boards have been placed at Rs 2,78,500 crore in budget estimates (2024-25) as against revised estimates (2023-24) of Rs 2,58,600 crore. The net revenue expenditure of Railways is set to Rs 2,78,500 crore in Budget Estimate 2024-25 as against Rs 2,58,600 crore in RE 2023-24.
Also, reimbursement of losses on operation of strategic lines has been kept at Rs 2,648 crore in Budget Estimate 2024-25 as against Rs 2,491.84 crore in RE 2023-24. An amount of Rs 745 crore has been provided in BE 2024-25 towards debt servicing of market borrowings for National Projects.