New Delhi: East Coast Railway (ECoR) loaded 120.76 million tonnes (MT) of freight during April–September 2026, up 3.4 percent from 116.78 MT in the corresponding period last year, an official said on Thursday.

Coal remained the largest contributor, with loading rising 3.7 percent to 71.01 MT from 68.46 MT. Iron ore recorded stronger growth, increasing 14 percent to 19.60 MT from 17.19 MT, according to an official statement.

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Container loading rose 7.8 percent to 2.10 MT, while iron and steel loading edged up 0.3 percent.

Among ECoR’s three divisions, Khurda Road handled the highest freight volume at 87.64 MT, a 1.7 percent increase over the previous year. The newly created Rayagada Division loaded 19.97 MT, up 8.8 percent, while Sambalpur recorded 13.15 MT, a rise of 7.3 percent.

ECoR attributed the growth to coordinated planning, closer engagement with stakeholders and efficient freight operations across its divisions.

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Freight unloading also increased during the first half of the financial year, reaching 109.66 MT from 100.11 MT a year earlier — a rise of around 10 percent.

Khurda Road led unloading volumes at 78.33 MT, up 11 percent. Sambalpur handled 22.84 MT, an increase of 6 percent, while Rayagada recorded 8.49 MT, up 3 percent.

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