P Chidambaram : Railways worst operating ratios in 2016-17 and 2000-01, both under BJP govt.

P Chidambaram : Railways worst operating ratios in 2016-17 and 2000-01, both under BJP govt.

 NEW DELHI: The problem of Indian Railways is deeper and it cannot be run as a government department, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today while criticising the BJP government for the public transporter reporting the "worst" operating ratio in the last fiscal.

"Railways worst operating ratio in 2016-17. Previous worst in 2000-01. Both under BJP governments! Despite well-meaning minister. Problem of Railways is deeper. It cannot be run as a department of government," he said on Twitter.

An operating ratio indicates how much the railways spends to earn a rupee. An operating ratio of 94.9 per cent means that the railways is spending 94.9 paisa to earn 100 paisa (one rupee). A lower figure of operating ratio is therefore regarded better and is indicative of better financial health of the system.