New Delhi, 13 September (H.S.): Indian Railways recorded significant expansion in both passenger connectivity and freight capacity during August. The railway network transported a total of 137.9 million tonnes of freight during the month, 5.4 per cent higher than the 130.9 million tonnes carried in August 2025. Freight revenue also registered a growth of 6.27 per cent during the period.

According to the Ministry of Railways, loading of iron ore increased by 12.1 per cent, clinker by 10.4 per cent, domestic container traffic by 9.2 per cent and coal by 6 per cent compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. Loading of finished steel rose by 4.9 per cent, mineral oil by 3.1 per cent, fertilisers by 1.6 per cent and other commodities by 8.2 per cent.

To provide industries with faster and more efficient end-to-end freight transportation facilities, five new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) were commissioned during August. As of August 31, the total number of operational Gati Shakti terminals across the country had increased to 149.

The new terminals have been established at Shivlakha in Gujarat, Nalli in Tamil Nadu, Shaktinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Devaragram in Madhya Pradesh and Brajrajnagar in Odisha.

In addition, 14 special Amrit Bharat services were converted into regular train services in August to provide passengers with affordable and comfortable travel options. With this addition, the total number of regular Amrit Bharat services in the country has risen to 86. These trains connect major states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Among the prominent services made regular are the Subedarganj–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Gorakhpur–Bandra Terminus, Gorakhpur–Delhi Junction, Ahmedabad–Bhagalpur, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Prayagraj Junction, Prayagraj Junction–Udhna Junction and Dhanbad–Coimbatore routes.

These services will provide direct and affordable travel options for people from Purvanchal, Bihar and Jharkhand, including industrial and migrant workers travelling to Mumbai, Gujarat and southern India.

According to passenger traffic figures, Indian Railways transported 67.27 crore passengers to their destinations in August, compared with 64.43 crore passengers in August 2025.

The suburban rail network recorded particularly strong growth of 9.02 per cent, with the number of suburban passengers increasing from 34.89 crore to 38.01 crore.

In view of the heavy passenger rush during the Raksha Bandhan festive season, Indian Railways operated 144 special train trips between August 25 and 31. This was a substantial increase from the 48 special trips operated during the corresponding period last year.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar