Indian Railways to rework freight loading plan as coal transportation falls

Banks on business from auto companies for transporting, mainly two-wheelers via railways

The Indian Railways is reworking its strategy on freight loading as the transportation of coal, which comprises half of its freight, is on a decline because of the Centre’s thrust on clean energy.
 

“Freight loading by the Railways in 2019-20 (FY20) is 1,223 million tonnes (mt), of which 50 per cent is coal and the rest other commodities,” Vinod Kumar Yadav, chairman of Railway Board, said here in a post-Budget conference.

The share of coal in railway freight is expected to come down to 40 per cent in the FY21, target for which is 1,265 mt.

Besides reduction in thermal production that