Indian Railways has crossed the 1-billion-tonne freight loading mark in the current financial year, reaching 1,020 million tonnes (MT) as of November 19, the Ministry of Railways said, according to ANI.
Coal remained the largest contributor with 505 MT, followed by iron ore (115 MT), cement (92 MT), container traffic (59 MT), pig iron and finished steel (47 MT), fertilisers (42 MT), mineral oil (32 MT), foodgrains (30 MT) and raw materials for steel plants (around 20 MT). Other commodities accounted for 74 MT.
Daily freight loading is currently around 4.4 MT, up from 4.2 MT last year, which the ministry said reflects improved operational efficiency and sustained demand across sectors.
Steady growth supported by reforms and logistics upgrades
Between April and October, freight loading reached 935.1 MT, compared with 906.9 MT in the same period last year. The ministry said the continued momentum indicates Railways’ capacity to support industrial expansion and infrastructure development.
Recent policy steps, including the Policy for Bulk Cement Terminals and rationalised rates for moving cement in containers, aim to strengthen bulk logistics capacity. The measures are expected to increase handling capability, reduce transit time and lower logistics costs.
The ministry said shifting bulk goods to rail brings benefits beyond commercial gains, such as reducing carbon emissions, easing highway congestion and offering greener logistics solutions for industries, including MSMEs.
These developments, it added, support India’s broader sustainability objectives and reinforce Railways’ role in advancing both economic growth and environmental targets.
