Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway has loaded 120.76 million tonnes (MT) of freight up to September 2026, compared to 116.78 MT during the corresponding period of 2025-26, registering a growth of 3.4 per cent, an official said Thursday.
Among the three divisions of the ECoR, Khurda Road Division recorded cumulative loading of 87.64 MT, registering a growth of 1.7 per cent over the previous year. Newly created Rayagada Division loaded 19.97 MT, achieving an impressive growth of 8.8 per cent, while Sambalpur Division recorded 13.15 MT, registering a growth of 7.3 per cent.
The growth was achieved through sustained and coordinated efforts by ECoR to maintain efficient freight operations and ensure continuity of loading activities. Through effective planning, close coordination with stakeholders and efficient management of freight operations across its divisions, ECoR maintained steady loading and movement of freight, contributing to the overall growth in freight performance.
An official statement said that coal loading continued to remain the major contributor to ECoR’s freight loading activities. Cumulative coal loading up to September 2026 stood at 71.01 MT, compared to 68.46 MT during the corresponding period last year, registering a growth of 3.7 per cent, it said.
Iron ore loading also witnessed particularly strong growth, increasing to 19.60 MT from 17.19 MT, a growth of 14.0 per cent. Container loading also recorded a growth of 7.8 per cent, reaching 2.10 MT. Iron and steel loading registered a marginal growth of 0.3 per cent, it said.
The East Coast Railway has also shown robust performance in freight unloading during the current financial year. From April to September 2026, ECoR unloaded 109.66 MT, registering a 10 per cent growth over 100.11 MT during the corresponding period of the previous year.
Among the divisions, Khurda Road Division recorded the highest unloading of 78.33 MT, registering an 11 per cent growth, followed by Sambalpur Division with 22.84 MT with a notable growth of 6 per cent and Rayagada Division with 8.49 MT with 3 per cent growth, it said.