Notwithstanding the COVID pandemic, the freight movement in the country has been on the higher side and has crossed the pre-covid times, as per the figures provided by the Indian Railways.
According to railway authorities, the volume of freight transported has seen a double-digit growth of 10 per cent over pre-pandemic volumes of 2019-20. To an extent, the Covid 19 pandemic has been used by Indian Railways as an opportunity to improve all-around efficiencies and performances.
In the year 2021-22, Indian Railways total loading is 203.88 Million Tonnes (MT) which is 10% more than FY 2019-20 loading figures (184.88 MT) for the same period, a statement issued by the Indian railway claimed.
It may be noted that the speed of freight trains has been enhanced in the existing network. and, freight speed improvement leads to saving of costs for all stakeholders. Freight speed has doubled over the last 18 months, railway officials maintained. Localised lockdown instead of nationwide and the unpredictability of the road sector has also benefitted the railways in the current.
It is estimated that the overall freight earnings have touched Rs 2,000 crore, an over 50 per cent increase compared to last year and a slight jump for the same period in 2019-20, which is the pre-covid times.
The important items transported during May 2021 includes 97.06 million tonnes of Coal, 27.14 million tonnes of Iron Ore, 7.89 million tonnes of Foodgrains, 5.34 million tonnes of Fertilizers, 6.09 million tonnes of Mineral Oil, 11.11 million tonnes of Cement (excluding clinker) and 8.2 million tonnes of Clinker.
"In the month of May 2021, Indian Railways earned Rs. 9278.95 crores from freight loading," Indian Railways claims.
Due to high speed, the Wagon Turn around time has seen an improvement of 27 per cent in this month and an overall 33 per cent compared to last year. In May 2021, wagon turnaround time is registered at 4.83 days as compared to 6.61 in May 2019, a railway official said.
Several concessions or discounts are also being given in Indian Railways to make Railways Freight movement very attractive along with Business Development Units formed in each zone as well as at the ministry level that has helped the freight business.
Timely delivery of goods has built confidence amongst its customers due to the high-speed movement of wagon wheels.
Few zones (around six zones) have registered an average speed of freight trains even above 50 Kmph.
"Due to geographical conditions, certain sections offer good speed to freight trains. An average speed of 45.42 Kmph is registered in May 2021 for freight trains which are 23 per cent more as compared to 36.84 Kmph for the same period," a railway official said.
Meanwhile, overcoming all hurdles and finding new solutions, Indian Railways is continuing its journey of bringing relief by delivering Liquid Medical Oxygen(LMO) to various states across the country.
So far, Indian Railways has delivered more than 17945 MT of LMO in more than 1080 tankers to various states across the country.
lt may be noted that 272 Oxygen Expresses have completed their journey so far and brought relief to various States.
In a scale-up of operations which continued till late yesterday midnight, Oxygen Expresses with 969 MT of LMO started their journeys from Cyclone hit the Eastern States and beat tough weather. These 12 Oxygen Expresses include 3 trains for Tamil Nadu, 4 trains for Andhra Pradesh and 1 each for Delhi region, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Kerala.
