Railways' freight earnings on upswing

New Delhi, Apr 20 (UNI) Propped by its slew of innovative measures, the Railways generated Rs. 35971.17 crore from freight traffic during 2005-06 as compared to Rs 30489.23 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 17.98 per cent.

The Railways carried 667.39 million tonnes of freight traffic during the last fiscal as compared to 602.78 million tonnes during 2004-05, an increase of 10.72 per cent.

The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 407398 million during the financial year ended March 2005 to 441140 million during April-March 2005-06, an increase of 8.28 per cent.

The revenue earnings from freight traffic during March this year were Rs.3550.46 crore as compared to Rs.3120.44 crore during the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 13.78 per cent, a Railway Ministry note said today.

The Railways carried 66.19 million tonnes (MTs) of freight traffic during March this year as compared to 59.52 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 11.21 per cent. The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 40041 million to 43564 million during the period, an increase of 8.80 per cent.

Of the total earnings during the month, Rs.1322.15 crore came from transportation of coal, followed by Rs. 265.43 crore from petroleum oil and lubricant (POL), Rs. 320.67 crore from cement, Rs.

224.23 crore from iron ore for exports, Rs. 315.33 crore from foodgrains and Rs. 129.18 crore from fertilizers.

In addition, the Railways earned Rs. 160.34 crore from raw material for steel plants, Rs. 192.79 crore from iron and steel for steel plants and Rs. 620.34 crore from other goods.

UNI SKS MA RAI1840