Rail freight traffic drops 28% in April-May amid Covid-19 lockdown

Among the commodities, coal was the worst-hit, with the sector contributing 60% to the total decline

Owing to the decline in economic activity during the first two months of the fiscal year 2020-21 (FY21), rail freight traffic in April and May dropped by 28 per cent, or 58 million tonne (mt), to 148 MT, compared to 206 mt during the same period last year.

Among the commodities, coal was the worst-hit, with the sector contributing 60 per cent to the total decline. Out of the total decline of 58 mt, Coal freight traffic alone saw a decline of 35 MT.

In April-May, coal loading was seen at 71 mt, compared to 106 mt during the first