New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) Sustaining its growth momentum, the Railways generated Rs 34,083.49 crore of revenue earnings from freight traffic during April 2006-January this year as compared to Rs 29231.71 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 16.60 per cent.

The Railways carried 593.67 million tonnes of freight traffic during the period as compared to 542.81 million tonnes carried during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 9.37 per cent.

The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 358770 million during April '05- January '06 to 389170 million during April '06- January '07, an increase of 8.47 per cent.

The earnings from freight traffic during January this year were Rs 3842.14 crore as compared to Rs. 3364.38 crore during the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 14.20 per cent.

The Railways carried 65.74 million tonnes (MTs) of freight traffic during the month as compared to 61.72 million tonnes of freight traffic during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 6.51 per cent.

The Net Tonne Kilo Metres went up from 41,510 million during January 2006 to 42,929 million during January this year, an increase of 3.42 per cent.

Of the total earnings during January this year, Rs 1493.94 crore came from transportation of 29.19 million tonnes of coal, followed by Rs 338.67 crore from 3.84 million tonnes of foodgrains, Rs 310.35 crore from 6.23 million tonnes of cement, Rs 261.65 crore from 3.12 million tonnes of petroleum oil and lubricant (POL), Rs 233.09 crore from 3.37 million tonnes iron ore for exports and Rs 202.70 crore from 3.22 million tonnes of fertilizers.

The Railways also earned Rs 198.80 crore from 1.79 million tonnes of iron and steel for steel plants, Rs 177.62 crore from 4.83 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants and Rs 625.32 crore from 10.15 million tonnes of other goods.

UNI