Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has shown an improvement in its cumulative revenue earnings from freight traffic during the first half of the current 2021-22 fiscal on the back of an increase in the transportation of commodities like cement, fertilizer, raw materials, and other goods.

NFR's revenue earnings from freight traffic on originating basis went up to Rs. 488.13 crore during the first six months of this financial year compared to Rs 460.98 crore in the year-ago period, resulting in a growth of 5.89 percent on an annual basis.

Meanwhile, the commodity-wise freight traffic on the originating basis of the NFR jumped by 39.60 percent year-on-year to 4.83 million tonnes (MT) during the April 1-September 30 periods of this fiscal as against 3.46 MT in the comparative period of 2020-21.

The NFR earned Rs 99.07 crore by transporting 0.60 MT of foodgrain, Rs 68.87 crore from the transportation of 0.71 MT of raw materials for steel plants, and Rs 10 crore from the freight of 0.04 MT of coal in the first half of 2021-22..

The zone's freight revenue from mineral oil (petroleum oil and lubricants) stood at Rs. 184.47 crore in April to September period, when it transported 1.56 MT of the product.

In addition, NFR earned Rs 6.97 crore from the transportation of 0.11 MT of fertilizer, Rs 18.18 crore from 0.06 MT of container service, Rs 8.08 crore from 0.16 MT of cement, and Rs 92.49 crore from 1.59 MT of 'other goods' during the period under review.

"The last financial year was very bad for the entire railway network on account of the nationwide lockdown that disrupted passenger services and also affected the freight segment. However, despite the second wave of the Covid-19

pandemic and local lockdowns, the situation this year has been much better. Demand for commodities and products have shot up as economic activities have witnessed a resurgence," said an official.

He added that various incentives and special schemes launched for business houses, traders, and transporters by the NFR have also resulted in a growth in freight traffic of the zone.

"We expect the freight segment to pick up further during the second half of this fiscal year. The trend is positive. However, it may need some more time for freight earnings to reach the pre-pandemic level," the official added.

The effect of the countrywide economic revival and surge in demand for commodities was evident across the entire Indian Railways network, with all the zones, barring Northern Railway, reporting growth in their revenue earnings from freight traffic during the first six months of the current financial year.

Overall, in the first half of 2021-22, the Indian Railways cumulative revenue earnings from freight traffic on originating basis climbed by 32.73 percent on an annual basis to over Rs 66,609 crore, while its commodity-wise freight traffic registered a growth of 25.34 percent to reach 668.89 MT.