RAILWAYS EXCEED FREIGHT TARGET DURING
2002-2003
Indian Railways
transported 518.48 Million Tonnes (MTs) of freight traffic during
2002-2003 as compared to 492.50 MT during the previous year 2001-2002,
thus, recording an increase of 25.98 MT. The freight traffic also
exceeded the revised annual target of 515 MT by 3.48 MT. The original
target was 510 MT, which was revised upward following a sustained
buoyancy in freight traffic during the year.
Of the total
traffic, coal was 235.72 MT followed by raw material to steel
plants 41.01 MT, finished iron and steel from steel plants 13.14
MT, iron ore for exports 16.66 MT, cement 46.22 MT, foodgrains
45.55 MT, fertilizers 26.30 MT, Petroleum Oil and Lubricant (POL)
34 MT and other goods 59.88 MT.
The annual freight
traffic in Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKMs) in millions was 356852
as compared to 333228 NTKMs during 2001-2002, recording an increase
of 23624 NTKMs. It, however, fell short by 311 NTKMs over the
target of 357163 NTKMs during the period.
Average Lead
in kilometres was 688 as compared to 677 during 2001-2002, thus,
recording an increase of 11 kilometres. It, however, fell short
of the target of 694 by 6 kilometres.