Railways Registers Record Loadings Amid Pandemic

Railways' wheels of progress keep rolling on despite Covid challenges as the national transporter continues to register the highest freight figures in terms of loading and earnings.

In the fiscal year 2021-22, Indian Railways has surpassed the loading figures of the year 2020 and 2019 that is 185.04 MT (2021 year) compared to 116.1 MT (in 2020) and 167.66 MT (in 2019) which shows growth of 59.38 per cent and 10.37 per cent respectively.

In this period, Indian Railways earned Rs 18,542.8 crore from freight loading. It is 4.92 per cent higher than the year 2019 earning from freight which was Rs 17,674 crore and 75.93 per cent higher than the year 2020 (Rs 10,540.1 crore) for the same period.

Indian Railways has maintained the momentum of highest ever loading in consecutive nine respective months from September, 2020 to May, 2021.
On mission mode, Railways' freight loading for the month of May 2021 crossed 2019 and 2020 year’s loading and earnings for the same period.

Coal sector has shown sustained growth. Indian Railways loaded 88.15 MT of coal in this FY 2021-22 which is a growth of 54.03 per cent compared to the last year 2020 (57.23 MT) and 1.39 per cent compared to 2019 loading (86.94 MT).

In the month of May 2021 (till date), Indian Railways loading was 73.45 million tonnes which is 44.99 per cent higher compared to last year’s loading for the same period (50.66 million tonnes).

Indian Railways loading was 73.45 million tonnes which includes 35.62 million tonnes of coal, 9.77 million tonnes of iron ore, 3.38 million tonnes of foodgrains, 2.22 million tonnes of fertilizers, 2.02 million tonnes of mineral oil and 3.15 million tonnes of cement (excluding clinker).

In May, 2021, Indian Railways earned Rs 7,368.00 crore from freight loading which is also 62.20 per cent higher compared to last year’s earnings for the same month (Rs 4,541.21 crore) and 4.93 per cent higher compared to the 2019 earning figures (Rs 7,021.75 crore) for the same period.

It is worth mentioning that a number of concessions/discounts are also being given in Indian Railways to make Railways Freight movement very attractive.

It may be noted that freight trains’ speed has also registered significant increase in the existing network.

Covid-19 has been used by Indian Railways as an opportunity to improve all round efficiencies and performances.