Guwahati: Freight operations of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) continued to show positive momentum in August 2026, supported by increased movement across several major commodity categories.
NFR handled 0.957 million tonnes (MT) of freight during August, compared with 0.916 MT in the same month of the previous year. The latest performance translates into a 4.5 per cent year-on-year increase.
The railway zone’s cumulative performance for the first five months of the financial year was also higher than last year’s corresponding figure. From April through August, NFR loaded 5.09 MT, registering a 6.5 per cent increase over the 4.78 MT recorded during the comparable period of the previous financial year.
Cement emerged as a major contributor to the monthly growth. Its loading volume increased by 106.6 per cent, reaching 0.13 MT in August. The railway also recorded a significant rise in the transportation of miscellaneous commodities, including fruits, vegetables and timber, with this segment growing by 92.3 per cent.
Coal and dolomite traffic likewise recorded substantial gains, increasing by 54.5 per cent and 46.4 per cent, respectively. Foodgrain movement rose by 39.6 per cent, while container and fertiliser loading registered increases of 6.3 per cent and 3.7 per cent, respectively.
The April-August period showed even stronger gains in some segments. Cement loading increased by 161.9 per cent, while miscellaneous commodities rose by 44.6 per cent. Dolomite loading was up 34.2 per cent during the five-month period. Coal and container traffic also recorded year-on-year increases of 7.5 per cent and 7.1 per cent, respectively.
NFR attributed the improved freight performance to measures aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and maintaining closer coordination with freight customers. The railway zone also highlighted its efforts to facilitate the timely movement of essential commodities across its network.
The latest figures point to sustained growth in freight activity under NFR, with both monthly and cumulative loading showing improvement and several key commodity segments registering notable increases.
