Guwahati: Freight loading on the Northeast Frontier Railway has increased tremendously in recent quarters. In the fourth quarter of April-June 2022, the growth rate was 28% higher than in the same period last year.

During the first quarter of the current fiscal year (April to June 2022), NF Railway loaded 2.979 MT. In June alone, 0.910 MT were loaded, representing a 7.9 percent increase over the same period the previous year.

Loading of coal climbed by 1133.3 percent in June 2022, while loading of other commodities such as stone chips, potatoes, and so on increased by a significant margin in comparison to the same month last year. Dolomite loading climbed by 47.7 percent during the month, container loading increased by 75 percent, POL loading increased by 23.5 percent, cement loading increased by 86.7 percent, and loading of other commodities increased by 2.2 percent.

In contrast to the same period last year, coal loading climbed by 2515.4% and dolomite loading grew by 19.9% from April to June 2022. Cement loading grew by 68.3 percent, POL loading by 17.3 percent, container loading by 27.8 percent, and other commodities by 21.4 percent over the same time. "Railway freight transportation has achieved new heights as the most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly form of transporting products (both perishable and non-perishable) accessible to customers. Increased loading was achieved as a consequence of improved terminal handling facility and mobility as a result of increased maintenance efforts and constant monitoring at all levels "Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer, said.

Notably, NFR's freight income increased from Rs. 2190.66 crores in 2017-18 to Rs. 2605.49 crores in 2021-22.