Indian Railways’ freight loading continued to show significant recovery, with a 7% increase registered for the first 18 days of August 2020 compared to the same period last year.
Significantly, growth over the same period last year also includes loading of coal, iron ore and steel products. Coal loading was at 24 million tons in 18 days of August as compared to 23.62 million tons for the same period last year. Similarly, Iron ore and allied raw material loading went from 6.91 million tons last year to 7.44 million tons so far in August 2020.
Loading of foodgrain has more than doubled, going from 1.55 million tons to 3.45 million tons this month for the same period. Fertilizer movement has also gone up to 3.09 million tons in the current period compared to 2.24 million tons last year.
Container and petroleum goods movement levels remain significantly below last year’s levels. However, the gap between the previous period and the current period is narrowing.
Measures Taken to Boost Freight Loading, Capacity
V.K. Yadav, Chairman, Railway Board outlined several measures taken to boost freight loading over the past several months.
This includes a renewed focus on parcel cargo services where several new initiatives were taken, including the recent decision to open up Private Freight Terminals and Sidings for loading of parcel cargo.
The CRB also outlined the roadmap for capacity expansion over the next few years. This expansion is also expected to help the Indian Railways increase goods loading and revenues substantially over the next several years.
