THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Nov 22: India’s freight rail network has crossed a major operational milestone, with cumulative freight movement surpassing one billion tonnes this year.
As of November 19, total loading reached approximately 1020 million tonnes, signalling strong demand and improved logistics performance, as per data shared by the Ministry of Railways.
Coal continues to dominate the freight basket at 505 MT, while other major contributors include iron ore (115 MT), cement (92 MT), containers (59 MT), pig iron and finished steel (47 MT), fertilisers (42 MT), mineral oil (32 MT), foodgrains (30 MT), raw steel inputs (around 20 MT), and other assorted commodities (74 MT).
Also Read- Shilpa Rao and Sukhwinder Singh donate KBC winnings to NGO for stray dogs
The daily loading average has also risen to nearly 4.4 million tonnes, up from 4.2 MT last year — a sign of smoother operations and sustained industrial demand.
Between April and October, freight volumes climbed to 935.1 MT, compared to 906.9 MT during the same period in the previous year, reflecting steady year-on-year growth.
Officials say this consistent upward trend highlights Railways’ expanding role in powering industrial output and national infrastructure projects.
Also Read- Two killed, three injured as Hyva crushes e-rickshaw in Seraikela
To further enhance network efficiency, the Railways has recently introduced several logistical policy reforms. Among them are the new Bulk Cement Terminal Policy and revised tariffs for transporting cement in containers — measures aimed at modernising freight operations and strengthening sector-specific supply chains.
