The Indian Railways bettered its records in freight loading and revenue for the fourth consecutive year in fiscal year 2025, said officials in the know.
Freight loading during the year crossed 1.61 billion tonnes, making India’s railway network the second largest in terms of freight carried annually, overtaking the US, they said. China is the only country ahead of India in terms of cargo handled by the railway network.
The year ended March 31 also saw the railways’ capital expenditure utilisation marginally exceeding the budget estimates at more than ₹2.65 lakh crore, they said.
The railways’ total revenue reached ₹2.62 lakh crore in fiscal 2025, making this the third consecutive year of breaking even, they said.
Earnings from transporting passengers rose to more than ₹75,000 crore from ₹70,693 crore in fiscal 2023-24.
This suggests it fell short of the ₹80,000 crore target for passenger revenue in the budget, despite carrying a record number of travellers with the Kumbh mela boosting footfall.
‘The railways has to ensure it remains the most affordable and reliable mode of mass transit,’ an official said.
Coal accounted for the bulk of the carto it transported at 817 million tonnes, up from 781 the year before.
‘This has improved the availability of coal at thermal power plants. Closing stock at power plants stood at 57 million tonnes, up from 50 million at the end of last fiscal,’ the official said.
‘This has improved the availability of coal at thermal power plants. Closing stock at power plants stood at 57 mt, up from 50 mt at the end of last fiscal,’ a senior official said.