Guwahati: Freight movement across the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) network continued its upward trend in August, with the railway zone handling 0.957 million tonnes (MT) of freight during the month. The figure represents a 4.5 per cent increase compared with the 0.916 MT recorded in August last year.
The growth was more pronounced when freight performance was considered for the first five months of the current financial year. Between April and August 2026, NFR loaded 5.09 MT of freight, marking a 6.5 per cent rise over the 4.78 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
Several commodity segments contributed to the improved performance. Cement emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories in August, with loading reaching 0.13 MT, more than double the volume recorded during the same month a year earlier. This represented a growth of 106.6 per cent.
NFR also registered substantial increases in the movement of miscellaneous commodities, which include products such as fruits, vegetables and timber. Loading in this category rose by 92.3 per cent during August. Coal loading increased by 54.5 per cent, while dolomite recorded a 46.4 per cent rise.
Other important freight categories also posted positive growth during the month. Foodgrain loading increased by 39.6 per cent, followed by container traffic at 6.3 per cent and fertiliser loading at 3.7 per cent.
The cumulative April-August figures showed particularly strong growth in cement movement, which climbed by 161.9 per cent compared with the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Miscellaneous commodities registered a 44.6 per cent increase, while dolomite loading rose by 34.2 per cent.
During the same five-month period, NFR recorded a 7.5 per cent increase in coal loading and a 7.1 per cent rise in container traffic, further contributing to the overall improvement in freight performance.
According to NFR, the growth reflects efforts to improve operational efficiency and maintain closer coordination with freight customers. The railway zone also highlighted its focus on ensuring the timely movement of essential commodities across its network.
The latest figures indicate continued strengthening of freight activity under NFR, with growth recorded across several key commodity segments during both August and the April-August period.
