In a commendable achievement, Indian Railways reported a substantial freight loading of 1154.67 million metric tonnes (MT) during the cumulative period of April to December 2023. This marks a significant improvement of 45.28 MT compared to the same period last year, showcasing the railways’ continued efforts to bolster freight operations.
The railways’ commitment to enhancing its freight services is further underscored by the impressive financial results. Freight earnings for the April to December 2023 period amounted to Rs. 125,106.2 Crores, reflecting a substantial increase of Rs. 4,626.92 Crores in comparison to the corresponding period in the previous year.
In the month of December 2023 alone, Indian Railways achieved an originating freight loading of 138.99 MT. This figure represents a notable 6.37% improvement over the freight loading recorded in December 2022. The freight revenue generated for December 2023 stood at Rs. 15,097.61 Crores, demonstrating a commendable 3.59% growth compared to the earnings of December 2022.
The breakdown of freight loading for December 2023 includes 69 MT in coal, 16.54 MT in iron ore, 6 MT in pig iron and finished steel, 7.23 MT in cement (excluding clinker), 5.07 MT in clinker, 4.26 MT in food grains, 5.77 MT in fertilizers, 4.33 MT in mineral oil, 7.70 MT in containers, and 9.76 MT in various other goods.
Under the motto “Hungry For Cargo,” Indian Railways has consistently worked towards improving the ease of doing business and enhancing service delivery at competitive prices. The railways’ customer-centric approach, coupled with the proactive efforts of Business Development Units and agile policy-making, has played a pivotal role in achieving this significant milestone in freight operations.