Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has once again made history by becoming the first Railway Zone in India to achieve 250 Million Tons (MT) of originating freight in the financial year 2024-25. This landmark achievement was accomplished ahead of schedule on March 21, 2024, a full 11 days before the end of the financial year.
ECoR’s record-breaking freight loading surpasses all previous benchmarks within Indian Railways, reinforcing its status as the highest freight-loading zone in the country. This is the second consecutive year that ECoR has crossed the 250 MT mark, further solidifying its dominance in freight operations. Additionally, ECoR has surpassed 200 MT of freight loading for the sixth consecutive time, a testament to its efficiency and operational excellence.
In addition to freight loading, ECoR also recorded an impressive 228.3 Million Tons of freight unloading within its jurisdiction in the financial year 2024-25, marking a 2.6% increase from the previous year. As of March 21, 2023, the railway zone had unloaded 222.4 MT of freight, showcasing consistent growth in its operations.
The three railway divisions of East Coast Railway played a pivotal role in achieving this milestone. The major freight contributors include coalfields of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) at Talcher, five key ports under ECoR’s jurisdiction—Paradeep, Dhamara, Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, and Gopalpur—iron ore mines in Bailadila (Chhattisgarh) and Keonjhar District (Odisha), and major steel and aluminium industries.
ECoR has a long-standing legacy of freight excellence. It was the second railway zone, after the undivided South Eastern Railway, to cross 200 MT in the financial year 2019-20. Now, it has become the first zone to achieve 250 MT of freight loading for two consecutive years.
Despite operational challenges, this remarkable feat was achieved through meticulous planning, seamless coordination with government agencies, industries, and stakeholders, and a strong commitment to efficiency. Under the leadership of General Manager Shri Parmeshwar Funkwal, ECoR has continued to excel in freight transportation. His strategic vision, leadership, and emphasis on teamwork have been instrumental in this success.
The dedicated workforce of East Coast Railway, with its relentless efforts and positive attitude, has been the driving force behind this achievement. This extraordinary performance further cements ECoR’s position as a leader in freight transportation, significantly contributing to India’s economic growth and logistics efficiency.
