IR registers increase in cumulative freight loading

Indian Railways (IR) has registered a cumulative freight loading volume of 1,102.17 mt for the year 2020-21, as of February 28, 2021, 0.01 per cent higher as compared to the volume in the corresponding period of the previous year (1,102.1 mt). On a month-to-month basis, loading for the month of February 2021 (as of February 28, 2021) stood at 112.25 mt, nearly 10 per cent higher than the corresponding period of the previous year. Further, the revenue generated up to February 28, 2021 was Rs 110.97 billion, 7.7 per cent higher on a month-to-month basis and 1 per cent higher on a cumulative basis than the revenue generated in the corresponding period of the previous year (Rs 103.05 billion). This development is significant because the growth has happened despite the slowdown caused by the nationwide lockdown imposed to stem the spread of Covid-19. Meanwhile, the average speed of freight trains in February 2021 was 46.09 km per hour, which is more than double of what it was in February 2020 (23.01 km per hour).