Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has recorded a steady rise in freight handling, unloading 9.63 per cent more rakes in September 2025 compared to the same period last year, officials said on Sunday.
According to NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the zone unloaded 1,059 freight rakes during September, up from 966 rakes handled in September 2024.
The freight comprised a wide range of essential commodities including FCI rice, sugar, edible oil, food grains, fertilizers, cement, coal, vegetables, automobiles, and tankers.
A large share of the freight movement catered to the northeastern region.
Assam accounted for the bulk of the operations, with 595 rakes unloaded — 291 of them carrying essential goods.
During the same period, Tripura received 83 rakes, Nagaland 21, Arunachal Pradesh 7, Manipur 20, Meghalaya 2, and Mizoram 19.
Beyond the Northeast, 179 rakes were unloaded in West Bengal and 133 in Bihar, comprising both essential and non-essential commodities.
Sharma said close monitoring at various levels has helped NFR reduce turnaround time and improve efficiency in unloading operations.
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He added that consistent freight movement plays a vital role in maintaining the supply chain of essential items while supporting the region’s economic growth.
The Northeast Frontier Railway, one of the 17 railway zones in India, covers all eight northeastern states along with seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of north Bihar.
In a related development, Mizoram’s capital Aizawl recently became the fourth state capital in the region to be connected by rail, following the inauguration of the 51.38-km Bairabi–Sairang railway line by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 13.
