Railway freight revenue up 16.30%

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) The Railways generated Rs 22,895.57 crore from freight traffic during the first seven months of the current fiscal, ended October, as compared to Rs 19,687.13 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 16.30 per cent.

During the period, the Railways carried 403.33 million tonnes of freight traffic as compared to 366.92 million tonnes carried during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 9.92 per cent.

The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 2,41,330 million during April- October 2005 to 26,5193 million during April- October this year, an increase of 9.89 per cent.

The earnings from freight traffic during October this year were Rs 3,356.78 crore, compared to Rs 2,835.01 crore during the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 18.40 per cent.

The Railways carried 58.76 million tonnes (MTs) of freight traffic during the month as compared to 53.43 million tonnes of freight traffic during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 9.98 per cent.

The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 34,417 million during October 2005 to 38,690 million during October 2006, an increase of 12.42 per cent.

Of the total earnings during October this year, Rs 1,257.26 crore came from transportation of 24.63 million tonnes of coal, followed by Rs 309.61 crore from 6.46 million tonnes of cement, Rs 258.25 crore from 2.90 million tonnes of petroleum oil and lubricant (POL), Rs 256.51 crore from 3.95 million tonnes iron ore for exports, and Rs 233.26 crore from 2.97 million tonnes of food grains.

In addition, it earned Rs 191.37 crore from 3.26 million tonnes of fertilisers, Rs 182.87 crore from 1.71 million tonnes of iron and steel for steel plants, Rs. 160.16 crore from 4.38 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants and Rs 507.49 crore from 8.50 million tonnes of other goods.

UNI/SKS SRS RS1836