Bhubaneswar: East Coast Railway (ECoR) has retained its position as the highest freight-loading zone in the Indian Railways for the ninth consecutive year, clocking a record 286.26 million tonnes (MT) of freight loading in 2025-26, a 10.42% increase over the previous fiscal. The zone also registered growth in passenger traffic, revenue, safety and infrastructure development, General Manager Parmeshwar Funkwal said during the 80th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday.
Addressing the gathering, Funkwal said ECoR carried 97.71 million passengers during the last financial year, while its originating revenue rose to Rs 32,837.67 crore. The zone also achieved a capital expenditure (CAPEX) utilisation of Rs 12,221.81 crore, accounting for 105.80% of the budget grant, and recorded an operating ratio of 55.14%, the second-best among all railway zones.
He said the railway zone has maintained its momentum in the current financial year as well. Till July 2026, ECoR loaded 88.36 million tonnes of freight, transported 30.49 million passengers and generated Rs 8,228.86 crore in originating revenue.
To cater to rising passenger demand, the zone operated 463 special trains and augmented 1,501 coaches during the year. It also introduced 16 pairs of new trains, including the Puri-Koraput-Puri Express via Sambalpur. The Brahmapur-Udhna-Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express was upgraded from a tri-weekly to a daily service, while LHB coaches were introduced in three pairs of trains to enhance passenger comfort and safety.
Highlighting ECoR’s management of the annual Rath Yatra rush, Funkwal said the zone operated more than 300 special trains, transporting around 13 lakh devotees. A 24×7 Command and Control Centre equipped with 350 CCTV cameras, drones and robotic systems was set up for real-time crowd monitoring and emergency response.
The General Manager said safety continued to remain the zone’s highest priority. During the year, ECoR installed 25 Hot Axle Box Detectors, completed 496 km of safety fencing, expanded solar-powered CCTV surveillance, and commissioned 14 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and 36 Road Under Bridges/Limited Height Subways (RUBs/LHSs) to improve rail safety.
On the infrastructure front, ECoR commissioned key sections of the Jagdalpur-Kirandul and Koraput-Singapur Road doubling projects, completed 43.79 track kilometres of railway electrification and achieved tunnel breakthroughs in several ongoing doubling projects. The zone also became the first in Indian Railways to operate DPWCS-enabled long-haul freight trains, with 895 trains run using the technology.
The railway zone also stepped up its sustainability initiatives by organising 2,874 cleanliness drives, operating 72 Head-on Generation (HOG) rakes, and installing 433 kWp of solar power plants. These measures generated 48.32 lakh units of green energy and resulted in savings of Rs 3.15 crore, officials said.
In a technology-driven initiative, the Railway Protection Force introduced the AI-powered ‘DSC ARJUN’ Rover Humanoid to strengthen passenger security. Under Operation Jeevan Raksha, the RPF saved 28 passengers from accidents and rescued 471 missing children during the year.
“The challenges ahead are significant, but with dedication and collective effort, we will continue to set new benchmarks for Indian Railways,” Funkwal said.
The Independence Day celebrations concluded with a prize distribution ceremony for winners of various competitions and a cultural programme presented by schoolchildren.
