East Coast Railway (ECoR) has achieved a significant milestone in freight transportation by recording 259.254 million tons of originating freight during the financial year 2024-25. This achievement marks a new national record, making ECoR the first railway zone in India to surpass the 259 million-ton threshold, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 1.2 per cent and an increase of 3.034 million tons over the 2023-24 fiscal year. Among other zones that also recorded high freight loading, South East Central Railway registered 253.208 million tons, South Eastern Railway achieved 212.361 million tons, and East Central Railway handled 202.62 million tons. ECoR's consistent performance in freight operations is highlighted by its historic record of crossing the 200 million-ton mark for the sixth consecutive year. During the year, ECoR transported a diverse range of commodities, including 153.271 million tons of coal, 32.476 million tons of iron ore, 21.381 million tons of steel and slag, 9.952 million tons of raw materials for steel plants, 2.989 million tons of food grains, 6.772 million tons of fertilizers, 1.065 million tons of cement, 2.991 million tons of mineral oil, and 28.357 million tons in containers. This performance was supported by significant contributions from the coalfields of Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) in Talcher, as well as from five major ports under ECoR’s jurisdiction—Paradeep, Dhamara, Vizag, Gangavaram, and Gopalpur. Industries in the steel, aluminum, and iron ore sectors also played a vital role. The three divisions of ECoR—Khurda Road, Waltair, and Sambalpur—were instrumental in achieving this target. The accomplishment reflects strong coordination among government sectors, industries, and stakeholders, reinforcing Indian Railways' role in driving the nation’s economic growth through efficient freight movement. News source: United News of India