New Delhi, March 6 (IANS). Indian Railways’ freight income has increased by 2.97 percent to Rs 14,571.99 crore in February on an annual basis. This information was given by the government on Friday.
In the same month last year, the income received from freight transportation was Rs 14,151.96 crore.
According to the Railway Ministry, freight traffic this month increased by 3.96 percent to 137.72 million tonnes (MT) as compared to 132.48 million tonnes (MT) in the month of February last year.
Transport output, measured in net tonne kilometers (NTKM), rose 4.18 per cent to 76,007 million NTKM in February 2026 from 72,955 million NTKM a year ago.
The official statement said freight movement this month was mainly driven by major commodities such as coal, iron ore, finished steel, fertilizers, cement and container cargo.
Among daily freight traffic, iron ore loading increased from 0.529 MT to 0.675 MT (an increase of 27.6 per cent), while pig iron and finished steel loading increased by 20.8 per cent to 0.343 MT from 0.284 MT.
The government also informed that loading of raw materials (except iron ore) for steel plants increased from 0.096 MT to 0.141 MT, an increase of 46.9 per cent.
According to the ministry, fertilizer loading increased by 10.2 per cent to 0.184 MT, while mineral oil and container export and import (EXIM) traffic increased by 17.8 per cent.
Monthly cumulative data also showed strong growth in core commodities.
Talking about container traffic, imported freight traffic increased by 5.6 percent and domestic container traffic increased by 2.3 percent during this month.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, Indian Railways transported 1,503.8 metric tonnes of freight, an increase of 3.28 per cent from 1,456.07 metric tonnes in the same period last year.
According to the government, freight revenue during the period stood at Rs 1.61 lakh crore, while freight traffic measured in NTKM (minimum kilograms) increased by 1.62 per cent to 840,000 million NTKM.
–IANS
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