New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) Railways has set a new September record by carrying more than 100 million tonnes of freight.

Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav said on Thursday that the total freight traffic of the Railways

touched 15.12 million tonnes in September -- the highest ever data for the month. Similarly, revenue from

freight transportation increased by 13.5 per cent to Rs 9,896.86 crore against Rs 8,716.29 crore in September

2019.

Mr Yadav said all types of freight loading including cement, steel, iron ore and fertiliser had increased

and was a good sign for the economy.

Grain loading had more than doubled. In September last year, 31.3 lakh tonnes of cereals were transported,

which rose to 6.3 million tonnes in September this year.

He informed that now Railways is also transporting pulses. Some of the transportation of sugar has also been

done by rail route which till now was entirely by road. Earlier, the Railways could not meet the demand for

the transportation of grains. This year it too had improved.

The Railway Board Chairman attributed the increased freight to the business development units formed in the

Railway Board, Railway Zone and Railway Board. He said these units were regularly contacting the concerned

stakeholders and talking about their needs. Necessary changes were being made accordingly.

UNI XC-SD SHK1922