Despite the Covid-related challenges, Indian Railways surpassed the previous year’s freight loading and earning in the Financial Year 2020-21.

In the closing month of this fiscal year 2020-21, Indian Railways surpassed the last year’s loading that is 1224.45 million tonnes (MTs) compared to last year’s 1205.04 MTs, which shows the growth of 2 per cent. Indian Railways earned 1,16,634.9 crore from freight loading compared to last year’s earning 1,13,477.9 crore which sees the growth of 3 per cent, the Ministry of Railways said on Wednesday (31 March).

In the month of March 2021, Indian Railways’ loading was 122.19 million tonnes which has seen the growth of 24 per cent compared to last year’s loading for the same month that was 98.76 MTs. In this month, Indian Railways earned Rs 12,137.22 Crores from freight loading which is also 24 per cent higher compared to last year’s earnings for the same month (Rs 9,806.09 crores), the ministry said.

On day to day basis, as on 31 March 2021 (morning), the freight loading of Indian Railways was 3.24 million tonnes, which is 35 per cent higher compared to last year’s loading for the same date (2.4 million tonnes). On this date, Indian Railways earned 364.92 crores which is also 53 per cent higher compared to last year’s earnings for the same date (239.14 crores), it said.

The ministry said that offfering of concessions and discounts in Indian Railways are among the factors attributed to a steady growth in its freight loading and earning despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.