A jump in movement of iron ore for domestic customers boosted the total originating freight traffic of South Eastern Railway, a major iron ore loading zonal railway, in 2012-13 over 2011-12.
In 2012-13, SER handled a total of 124.33 million tonnes compared with 117.01 mt in 2011-12, thus posting 6.26 per cent growth. The target for 2012-13 was set at 118.35 mt.
During the same period, the iron ore throughput jumped to 67.26 mt from 62.15 mt , of which the share of domestic customers was 63.78 mt (53.87 mt) and of exports 3.48 mt (8.28 mt). In other words, the domestic movement of iron ore jumped 9.91 mt while movement for exports dropped 4.80 mt.
The other items whose loading also improved during the period were: coal 26.43 mt (25.76 mt), finished steel 13.43 mt (12.43 mt), cement 8.53 mt (7.86 mt) and raw materials for steel plants (mainly limestone and dolomite) 2.2 mt (1.34 mt), according to SER sources.