Railways Records Highest Ever Loading This June

Continuing with the growth trajectory, freight service has maintained the high momentum in terms of earnings and loadings in June this year despite the Covid challenges.

On Mission Mode, the freight loading in June was 112.65 million tonnes (MT), 11.19 per cent higher compared to June 2019 (101.31 MT) which was a normal year and 20.37 per cent higher compared to June 2020 (93.59 MT) for the same period.

The important commodities transported during June 2021 includes 50.03 MT of coal, 14.53 MT of iron ore, 5.53 MT of pig iron and finished steel, 5.53 MT of foodgrains, 4.71 MT of fertilizers, 3.66 MT of mineral oil, 6.59 MT of cement (excluding clinker) and 4.28 MT of clinker.

In the month of June 2021, Indian Railways has earned Rs 11,186.81 crore from freight loading, which is also 26.7 per cent higher compared to June 2020 (Rs 8,829.68 crore) and 4.48 per cent higher compared to June 2019 (Rs 10,707.53 crore).

A number of concessions/discounts are also being given in Indian Railways to make the freight movement very attractive.

It may be noted that the speed of freight trains has been enhanced in the existing network.

Freight speed improvement leads to saving of costs for all stakeholders. Freight speed has doubled over the last 19 months.

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