THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
OCTOBER 8, 2026
East Coast Railway
(ECoR) recorded a robust 3.4 per cent growth in freight loading during the
first six months of the 2026-27 financial year, handling 120.76 million tonnes
(MT) compared with 116.78 MT in the corresponding period last year.
The growth was driven
by strategic planning, efficient operations and sustained coordination across
its divisions, enabling the railway zone to maintain steady freight movement
and continuity in loading activities.
Among the three
divisions, Khordha Road accounted for the largest cumulative freight volume at
87.64 MT, registering a 1.7 per cent increase over the year-ago period.
Rayagada Division emerged as the fastest-growing division, recording an 8.8 per
cent rise in loading to 19.97 MT, while Sambalpur Division posted a healthy 7.3
per cent growth at 13.15 MT.
Coal continued to be
the mainstay of ECoR's freight business, with loading rising 3.7 per cent to
71.01 MT during April-September 2026.
Iron ore recorded a
sharper increase, surging 14 per cent to 19.60 MT. The zone also witnessed
steady gains in container and steel loading during the period, further
strengthening its overall freight performance.
ECoR also registered
significant improvement in inbound logistics, with freight unloading growing by
10 per cent year-on-year to 109.66 MT during the first half of the current
fiscal.
Khordha Road Division
accounted for the largest share of inbound freight, handling 78.33 MT of
unloading during the period.
The railway attributed the improved performance to sustained and coordinated efforts to maintain efficient freight operations, effective planning and close coordination with stakeholders.
Efficient management of freight operations across the divisions enabled ECoR to maintain the smooth loading and movement of commodities, contributing to the overall growth in its freight performance during the first half of 2026-27.
