Railways' freight revenue up 10.99 per cent

New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) The Railways generated Rs 29416.42 crore of revenue earnings from freight traffic during the first eight months of the current fiscal as compared to Rs 26502.79 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 10.99 per cent.

Railways carried 501.38 million tonnes of freight traffic during April-November this year, as compared to 464.39 million tonnes carried during the corresponding period last year, reflecting an increase of 7.97 per cent.

The NetTonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 304871 million to 321460 million during the period, showing an increase of 5.44 per cent.

The earnings from freight traffic during the month of November this year were pegged at Rs 3992.83 crore as compared to Rs 3607.85 crore during the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 10.67 per cent.

Railways carried 65.67 million tonnes of freight traffic in November this year, as compared to 61.06 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 7.55 per cent.

The NTKM went up from 39670 million to 42093 million during the period, showing an increase of 6.11 per cent.

Of the total earnings during the month of November 2007, Rs 1515.15 crore came from transportation of 28.35 million tonnes of coal, followed by Rs 629.86 crore from 11.78 million tonnes of iron ore, Rs 331.27 crore from 6.49 million tonnes of cement and Rs 245.05 crore from 2.89 million tonnes of Petroleum Oil and Lubricant (POL).

In addition, it earned Rs 244.58 crore from 2.51 million tonnes of foodgrains, Rs 241.67 crore from 2.16 million tonnes of iron&finished steel, Rs 231.11 crore from 3.40 million tonnes of fertilisers, Rs 69.37 crore from 0.91 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants except iron ore and Rs 484.77 crore from 7.18 million tonnes of other goods.

UNI