East Coast Railway Sets New Record in Freight Loading, Surpassing Indian Railways Milestones

Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has etched its name in the annals of Indian Railways history by surpassing all previous records in freight loading during the Financial Year 2023-24. From April 1, 2023, to March 25, 2024, ECoR achieved a monumental feat by loading a staggering 250 million tons of freight, eclipsing the earlier record set in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Notably, ECoR has become the first zone to cross the milestone of 200 million tons of loading for the fifth consecutive time, further solidifying its position as a frontrunner in freight transportation within the Indian Railways network.

The three divisions of ECoR—Khurda Road, Waltair, and Sambalpur—have played instrumental roles in contributing to this remarkable achievement. Khurda Road Division led the charge with a remarkable contribution of 156.17 million tons, followed by Waltair Division with 74.66 million tons and Sambalpur Division with 19.20 million tons. Each division surpassed its previous year’s loading figures, showcasing a commendable improvement in performance.

During the financial year 2023-24, ECoR handled various commodities with finesse, including 149.50 million tons of coal, 12.9 million tons of raw materials for steel plants, 20.15 million tons of steel and slag, 37.4 million tons of iron ore, 1.21 million tons of cement, 3.16 million tons of food grains, 6.4 million tons of fertilizers, 3.0 million tons of mineral oil, and 23.27 million tons of freight in containers and other goods. This marks a significant increase of 6% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

The monumental success in freight loading can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including the coalfields of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) at Talcher, five ports under ECoR’s jurisdiction, iron ore mines in Bailadila and Keonjhar District, and major steel and aluminum companies. Despite numerous challenges, ECoR demonstrated exceptional performance through meticulous planning and coordination with government sectors and industries.

Under the visionary leadership of General Manager Manoj Sharma, ECoR has consistently strived for excellence, with a workforce motivated by a culture of dedication and hard work.