Indian Railways Freight Movement Exceeds 1,617.3 Million Tonnes in 2024-25

Synopsis

Indian Railways has achieved a remarkable 19.72% growth in domestic container freight loading for 2024-25, surpassing 1,617.3 million tonnes. This growth highlights the essential role of railways in transporting critical commodities for various industries.

Key Takeaways

19.72% growth in domestic container freight.
1,617.38 million tonnes of freight loading in 2024-25.
Coal loading increased by 7.4%.
Eastern Railway achieved the highest growth at 16.11%.
Rail transport is more economical for long-distance bulk goods.

New Delhi, April 1 (NationPress) Indian Railways has demonstrated a significant 19.72 percent increase in the loading of domestic container freight, achieving a 1.68 percent growth across all commodities for the financial year 2024-25, compared to the last fiscal year.

In FY 2024-25, Indian Railways recorded an impressive 1,617.38 million tonnes (MT) of originating freight loading, an increase from 1,590.68 MT in FY 2023-24, marking a noteworthy increment of 26.70 MT, as stated by the Railway Ministry on Tuesday.

Indian Railways plays a vital role in transporting bulk commodities essential for industrial and energy needs, including coal for power generation, iron ore and finished steel for manufacturing and construction, cement, food grains for national distribution, fertilizers for agriculture, and petroleum products.

Domestic coal loading showed a growth of 7.4 percent, while domestic containers experienced a remarkable 19.72 percent growth. The five primary commodities transported in domestic container traffic include gunny sacks, hot rolled coils, ceramic tiles, wall care putty, and rice.

Fertilizer loading saw a 1.25 percent increase, while loading of petroleum oil and lubricants (POL) showed an uptick of 0.61 percent.

Among the Zonal Railways, Eastern Railway achieved the highest growth at 16.11 percent. South East Central Railway (SECR) recorded a 7.28 percent growth, while Northeast Frontier Railway reported a 4.21 percent increase in freight loading. Northern Railway achieved 3.89 percent growth, and East Central Railway noted a 2.82 percent increase.

Similarly, South Central Railway showed a growth of 2.14 percent, while East Coast Railway recorded a 1.19 percent rise in freight operations. Southern Railway saw a 0.80 percent increase, and South Eastern Railway posted a 0.36 percent growth.

Thanks to the impressive coal loading by Indian Railways, the stock at powerhouses across India reached 57 MT, as mentioned in the official statement.

For transporting long distances and bulk goods, rail transport proves to be more economical than road transport. This helps lower overall logistics costs for businesses, making Indian goods more competitive both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, Railways connect mines, factories, agricultural zones, and ports with markets nationwide, facilitating seamless supply chains.