New Delhi Jan 30 PTI Caught in the crossfire over the rail exams NTPC the countrys largest power producer has written to the Railways to rename its Non-Technical Popular Categories NTPC tests organised by the Railway BoardThe Railway exams have been in the news for the last week over large-scale protests over certain irregularities in its screening processThe abbreviation of the exams which is the same as the one used for the power producer has been widely used to refer to the controversial test during the reportage on the issue This is with reference to the recent protest in some parts of the country with respect to Railway Recruitment Board Non-Technical Popular Categories NTPC RRB exam of Indian Railways a letter from NTPC the power corporation states While we are confident that the Railways is taking all necessary steps to address the situation we just wish to bring to your notice that NTPC Limited has inadvertently been caught in the crossfire The media has been using the abbreviated form NTPC which gives the impression that the exams are linked to Indias largest power producer the NTPC saidThis you would agree is also hurting our reputation it pointed outIt further requested that the full form of the tests be used by the national transporter Use full form of the Railway Recruitment Scheme in your press releases statements so that this misconception is not carried on creating wrong impression amongst the users of social media and also public at large the NTPC said We would therefore urge you to kindly rename these exams so that no confusion is created in future it said Since the protests the Railways has suspended this exam along with the Level 1 tests and have formed a committee to look into the grievances of the aspirants PTI ASG RHL

New Delhi Oct 29 PTI To protect its catering and ticketing arm and after taking stock of market sentiments the Railways has decided to reverse its decision demanding 50 per cent revenue share from convenience fee from bookings on the IRCTC website sources said on FridayAs reported by PTI the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation IRCTC in a regulatory filing on Thursday had said that it will share the revenue earned from convenience fee collected by it in the ratio of 5050 with effect from November 1Shares of IRCTC plunged 25 per cent to Rs 685 apiece in Fridays opening deals a day after the Railways decision to ask for the revenue sharing arrangementThe Railway Board has decided to reverse its decision given the market sentiment and also the fact that the IRCTC revenues have suffered a lot during the lockdown Also the view was that the revenue earned by the Railways through this arrangement was not worth the losses suffered by IRCTC a top source told PTIConvenience fee charged from customers generated sizable revenue for both IRCTC and the Railways In 2014-15 when the revenue sharing was 20-80 the catering arm received majority of the Rs 253 crore revenue The following year the revenue generated from this was Rs 552 crore with a 50-50 share arrangement In 2016-17 with a similar revenue sharing model the fee generated Rs 362 crore as earning for the IRCTC-Railway combine However convenience fee was discontinued thereafter and the duo did not earn any revenue from it till 2019 The IRCTC began charging the fee again during the coronavirus crisis mainly to boost its revenues during the slowdown The Railways however gave up its share In 2019-20 IRCTC earned Rs 352 crore from convenience fee while in 2020-21 it earned Rs 299 croreTill August this year the IRCTC had earned Rs 224 croreThe convenience fee is not part of the rail fare It is for the service offered by IRCTC of booking a ticket on the web PTI ASG RHL