Rlys freight traffic on steady growth track
Reports 114.8 mt of freight loading in May; 9.7% higher than the previous best
The Indian Railways has maintained steady growth in freight traffic for the second month of the current fiscal year. The Railways reported 114.8 mt of freight loading in May. This is 9.7 per cent higher than the previous best of 104.6 mt reported in May 2019. Freight loading had surpassed 2019 levels this year as well, with 111.41 mt being transported by the national carrier.
The Indian Railways has maintained steady growth in freight traffic for the second month of the current fiscal year.
The Railways reported 114.8 million tonnes (mt) of freight loading in May. This is 9.7 per cent higher than the previous best of 104.6 mt reported in May 2019.
Freight loading had surpassed 2019 levels in April this year as well, with 111.41 mt being transported by the national carrier. This was 10 per cent more than the April 2019 levels.
On the whole, the Railways reported record high freight loading in 2020-21 (FY21). This was on the back of speedier freight trains that found more track space since passenger trains were halted for the most part of the year. But there was also an uptick in some new commodities that the Railways ferried.
“This change has continued and sustained. We are carrying more traffic - even in new commodities in our freight basket. Last year, we ferried 40 mt less coal. This year, there is significant uptick in coal demand for power generation as well. I feel this demand will be sustained to carry the traditional and new items in the freight basket,” Railway Board Chairman Suneet Sharma told Business Standard.
“Steps like Kisan Rail have also helped increase freight,” he added.
Steep targets ahead
The Railways has set a colossal target of doubling freight loading by 2024.
Responding to a query on how this would be achieved in light of the pandemic, Sharma said, “We had ferried 1,225 mt of freight last year (FY21). Our target is to carry 2,024 mt by 2024. To achieve that, mega projects like the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCS) need to be completed. We hope to see that happen next year. We are planning a freight loading of 1,400 mt in the current year.”
Sharma said with freight increments of 10 per cent, as is the case right now, the Railways will not be able to achieve the 2024 target.
Yet he is hopeful of significant improvements once major rail projects are completed. “This year itself, over 1,000 kilometres of DFCS are complete. A breakthrough is expected when we get traffic to Bhagalpur from Mundra port. The releasing of capacity by shifting container movement to the freight corridors will be useful for carrying other commodities. The freeing-up of capacities due to coal movement being shifted to the freight corridors will be enormous,” he said.
“We believe we will definitely get more traffic if we improve the turnaround time and speed. We are very certain of achieving our freightloading targets as major infrastructure projects come online,” he added.