Despite of COVID challenges, Railways maintains double digit growth in freight traffic

New Delhi: Showing resilience against the COVID-19, Indian Railways has witnessed the double-digit growth in freight traffic. Freight figures continue to maintain the high momentum in terms of earnings and loading in the month of May 2021 for Indian Railways.

According to an official statement of the Ministry of Railways, Indian Railways has recorded a more than 10 percent increase in freight loading as compared to the normal year of FY 2019-20. In FY 2021-22, Indian Railways' total loading is 203.88 million tonnes (MT) which is 10 percent higher than FY 2019-20 loading figures of 184.88 MT for the same period.

On mission mode, Indian Railways' freight loading for the month of May 2021 is 92.29 MT which is 10 percent more than in May 2019 of 83.84 MT and 43 percent more than May 2020 of 64.61 MT for the same period.

The important items transported during May 2021 includes 97.06 million tonnes of coal, 27.14 million tonnes of Iron Ore, 7.89 million tonnes of food grains, 5.34 million tonnes of fertilizers, 6.09 million tonnes of mineral oil, 11.11 million tonnes of cement (excluding clinker) and 8.2 million tonnes of clinker.

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In the month of May 2021, Indian Railways earned Rs 92,78.95 crores from freight loading. Wagon turn-around time has seen an improvement of 27 percent in this month. In May, 2021, wagon turn-around time is registered at 4.83 days as compared to 6.61 in May 2019.

To make Railways freight movement very attractive, Indian Railways is offering a number of concessions/ discounts and the speed of freight trains has also been enhanced in the existing network. Improvement in the speed of freight leads to saving costs for all stakeholders. Freight speed has doubled over the last 18 months.

Few zones (around six zones) have registered the average speed of freight trains even above 50 Kmph. Due to geographical conditions, certain sections offer good speed to freight trains. An average speed of 45.42 Kmph is registered in May 2021 for freight trains which is 23 percent more as compared to 36.84 Kmph for the same period.

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

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