Despite disruption of rail movement due to the Covid-19 pandemic, railways freight loading for the financial year 2020-21 has surpassed the level achieved in the last fiscal.
As of March 12, 2020-21, the railways loaded 1145.68 MT of goods as compared to 1145.61 MT last year.
"This gives us a great boost and proves how the railways has continued to be the driving force of the economy. We have loaded 1145.68 MT of goods in 2020-21 as compared to 1145.61 MT last year. This is despite the coronavirus crisis which had pushed us into a deficit of 70 MT from April to July," Railway Board Chairman Suneet Sharma told media persons here on Friday.
The Railway Board chairman further said on a month-to-month basis, up to March 11, Indian Railways' loading was 43.43 million tonnes, which is 10 per cent higher than the corresponding period last year (39.33 million tonnes).
The average speed of freight trains in the month of March 2021 till now was 45.49 kmph which is almost double compared to last year for the same period (23.29 kmph).
"It is worth mentioning that a number of concessions/discounts are also being given in Indian Railways to make rail freight movement very attractive. The strong emergence of business development units in zones and divisions, constant dialogue with the industry and logistics service providers, faster speed are adding to the robust growth of freight business for the Railways," Sharma said.
Indeed, there is a massive downfall in its coal loading figures compared to last year. However, the national transporter made good with loading other commodities including foodgrains and fertilizers.