Bhubaneswar: East Coast Railway (ECoR) recorded a 3.4 per cent growth in freight loading during the first six months of the 2026-27 financial year, moving 120.76 million tonnes (MT) of freight till September, an official statement said.
The railway had loaded 116.78 MT during the corresponding period of 2025-26.
Among ECoR’s three divisions, Khurda Road recorded the highest loading at 87.64 MT, registering a 1.7 per cent year-on-year growth. Rayagada loaded 19.97 MT, up 8.8 per cent, while Sambalpur handled 13.15 MT, recording a 7.3 per cent rise.
Coal remained the largest contributor to the railway’s freight performance, with cumulative loading increasing to 71.01 MT from 68.46 MT in the year-ago period, a growth of 3.7 per cent.
Iron ore loading registered a sharper rise of 14 per cent, increasing to 19.60 MT from 17.19 MT. Container loading grew 7.8 per cent to 2.10 MT, while iron and steel loading posted a marginal 0.3 per cent increase.
ECoR also recorded a 10 per cent rise in freight unloading during April-September 2026, handling 109.66 MT against 100.11 MT in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Khurda Road Division accounted for the highest unloading at 78.33 MT, up 11 per cent, followed by Sambalpur with 22.84 MT, up 6 per cent, and Rayagada with 8.49 MT, up 3 per cent.
The railway attributed the improved performance to coordinated freight planning, close engagement with stakeholders and efficient management of loading and transportation operations across its divisions.
