Railways see 5% growth in freight loading

NEW DELHI: Indian Railways witnessed a growth of 5% in its freight loading to 834 million tonnes (MT) during 2008-09, thanks to strong demand in the economy in the first half of the fiscal. It, however, failed to achieve its own target of carrying 850 MT during this period.

While the country���s largest exporter saw an increase in loading of its flagship goods coal, cement and fertiliser it registered a dip in iron ore, and steel. As per a provisional estimate, the railways expects to register a growth of 7.62% overall for the year 2008-09 in cement loading. The growth in fertilizer loading is expected to be at a level of 13.70% in the previous fiscal mainly due to growth in imported fertilizers.

"The decline in the loading of iron ore and steel was mainly on account of weak demand in the export market. We saw significant growth in coal loading in the last fiscal," a Rail Bhawan official said. The railways registered a growth of about 9% to 369 MT in coal loading.

Iron-ore for export and for steel plants are expected to register a negative growth rate, the official said.