The Waltair Division of East Coast Railway has achieved a significant milestone by loading 75 million tonnes of freight, marking a first in its history of over 100 years.
The division reported a freight loading figure of 75.64 million tonnes, with three days remaining in the financial year, on Thursday.
Despite challenges such as natural disasters, the Waltair Division which is one of the highest freight revenue earners in the country has surpassed its previous year’s loading of 69.6 million tonnes, showcasing a strong growth trajectory.
This year, the division also generated a revenue of Rs. 10,000 crore for the first time.
A notable contribution to the freight loading includes 22.88 million tonnes, mainly iron ore, from the Kottavalsa – Kirandul (KK) line, which is a 22.4% increase from last year. The Vizag Steel Plant added 4.19 million tonnes, up by 16.7% compared to the previous year.
In terms of commodities, Coal and Coke led the way with 25.29 million tonnes, followed by Iron Ore at 22.53 million tonnes, Bauxite at 5.52 million tonnes, Alumina at 3.77 million tonnes, and Iron and Steel at 3.02 million tonnes. Other goods, including slag, caustic soda, gypsum, and container traffic, saw a 23.7% increase, contributing 12.30 million tonnes to the total loading.