Indian Railways earned 62 paise of each rupee from freight charges during 2003-04 and spent a meagre three paise on special safety.

The department spent a mere two paise towards the development fund of Railways in the fiscal 2003-04, according to the Railway Budget 2005-06 presented by Union Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav on Saturday.

The department continues to spend a maximum of 30 paise of each rupee earned on paying wages and allowances to its staff while earning an equivalent amount from the movement of passengers across the country.

The Railway Budget 2005-06: Complete Coverage

Other streams of earnings for the department include two paise each from coaching and sundry avenues while four paise came from miscellaneous heads.

Under the expenditure head, fuel took away 17 paise while 14 paise were spent on catering to the pension fund.

Railways spent seven paise of each rupee earned towards payment of lease charges and a same amount towards payment of dividend.

An expenditure of six paise was incurred towards depreciation reserve fund and five paise towards maintenance of stores besides miscellaneous expenses of nine paise during 2003-04.