New Delhi, Dec 2 (LatestNewsX) – Indian Railways announced that freight tonnage rose by 4.2 % to 135.7 million tonnes in November 2023, up from 130.2 million tonnes a year earlier. The uptick was mainly due to stronger movement of key commodities: pig iron and finished steel (+16 %), iron ore (+9.7 %), fertilisers (+10.6 %), containers (+6.8 %) and other goods (+23.6 %), signalling a healthy spread in freight traffic.
On an annual basis, the rail network has already moved 1,070.8 million tonnes up to November, a 3.3 % increase from the previous year. This figure is noteworthy because, in just the first eight months of FY 2025–26, Indian Railways has handled more freight than it did in the entire 2013–14 fiscal year, when total loading was 1,055 million tonnes, the statement added.
The continuous growth is bolstering industrial supply chains, aiding domestic and international trade, and shaping a more sustainable, cost‑efficient logistics ecosystem. Rail transport is almost half the price of road freight, delivering significant savings for companies and wider economic benefits, according to the release.
Beyond the commercial gains, shifting bulk cargo to rail yields extra perks: lower carbon emissions, reduced highway congestion, and a greener, more reliable option for all types of industry, including MSMEs. This transition reinforces India’s focus on sustainable development, aligning freight operations with the country’s Net Zero Carbon Emission targets and firmly positioning Indian Railways as a catalyst for both economic and environmental progress.
“As India advances toward its aspiration of becoming a $5 trillion economy, the need for efficient, reliable, and scalable logistics remains central to this journey. Indian Railways is playing an increasingly pivotal role by moving goods at an unprecedented scale, reducing logistics costs, and enabling industries to grow faster and more sustainably. At the same time, Indian Railways is carrying over two crore passengers every day, thereby reinforcing the backbone of India’s transport ecosystem,” the statement added.
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