Railway freight revenue up 10.87 per cent

New Delhi, Jun 17 (UNI) Powered by its improved performance in freight loading, the Railways generated Rs.8996.29 crore of revenue earnings from freight traffic during the first two months of the current fiscal compared to Rs. 7356.79 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 10.87 per cent.

Railways carried 137.73 million tonnes of freight traffic during April-May this year compared to 124.98 million tonnes carried during the same period last year, registering an increase of 10.20 per cent.

The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 80993 million to 89335 million during this period, showing an increase of 10.30 per cent.

Of the total earnings during May this year, Rs. 1617.60 crore came from transportation of 29.46 million tonnes of coal, followed by Rs. 975.54 crore from 12.53 million tonnes of iron ore for exports, steel plants and other domestic users, Rs. 375.24 crore from 7.05 million tonnes of cement, Rs. 337.98 crore from 3.64 million tonnes of foodgrains and Rs. 273.81 crore from 3.22 million tonnes of petroleum oil and lubricant (POL).

In addition, Railways earned Rs. 232.30 crore from 2.20 million tonnes of pig iron and finished steel from steel plants, Rs. 167.90 crore from 2.81 million tonnes of fertilizers, Rs. 70.65 crore from 0.93 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants, except iron ore, Rs. 180.03 crore from 2.29 million tonnes by container service and Rs. 368.58 crore from 5.82 million tonnes of other goods.

UNI/SKS ARB VC1646