Railways Exceed Freight Target

The Railways have exceeded their Budget target of freight loading for 2002-03, notching up 518.48 million tonnes against the target of 515 million tonnes. Compared to the actual loading of 492.50 million tonnes recorded in 2001-02, there has been a 5 per cent rise.

The Railway ministry said the original Budget target for freight loading was 510 million tonnes. However, the target was increased in the middle of the year following sustained buoyancy in freight traffic.

The annual freight traffic in net tonne kilometres in millions (NTKMs) was 3,56,852 NTKMs compared to 3,33,228 NTKMs in 2001-02. It, however, fell 311 NTKMs short of the Budget target of 3,57,163 NTKMs, the ministry said.

Of the total traffic, coal accounted for 235.72 million tonnes, followed by cement (46.22 million tonnes), foodgrains (45.55 million tonnes) and petroleum and lubricants (34 million tonnes).

Foodgrain movement saw the largest rise due to drought conditions in many parts of the country and the need to move large consignments of foodgrain to distressed areas.

Fertilisers at 26.30 million tonnes, and iron ore for exports at 16.66 million tonnes were the other bulk traffic for the Railways.