THE West Central Railway (WCR) has started Mission 3000 Million Tonnes (MT) for enhancing freight loading above 100 million till 2026-27. The mission has been prepared in the series of efforts being made for increasing revenue and rail infrastructure.

It may be mentioned that in the overall freight traffic in West Central Railway, Jabalpur division has major contribution of 70 per cent while Bhopal and Kota divisions have 15 per cent each. Commodity wise mainly 10 products are transported include 28 per cent cement, 19 per cent coal, 13 per cent clinker, 13 per cent food grains, 10 percent fertilizers, 5 per cent iron and 2 per cent container which is 90 per cent of commodity freight traffic.

In year 2021-22, there was a significant rise of 46.40 million tons freight loading which was 6.17 percent surplus than previous year. Under the Mission 3000 million tons, WCR has planned to increase freight load above 50 million tons in 2022-23, above 60 million tons in 2023-24, above 75 million tons in 2024-25, above 90 million tons in 2025-26 and above 100 million tons in year 2026-27. Under this mission, freight loading of 13.13 million tons was increased from April 2022 to June 2022.

In order to accomplish the mission, railway has planned to develop next generation freight yards for increasing freight loading. In budget year 2022-23, budget of Rs. 1980 crores has been sanctioned for establishment of 11 next generation freight maintenance yards. WCR’s NKJ is one of the 11 identified yards. Yards will be developed in WCR according to the specified standards of Railway Board.