<span style="color: #222222;">Indian Railways has taken a number of initiatives on mission mode to boost  freight operations in spite of COVID 19 related challenges. Because of these initiatives, the freight loading till yesterday is 4.3 per cent higher, compared to last year for the same month. Till yesterday, the total freight loading was 81.33 million tonnes which is higher than last year for the same month. Total freight loading in the same month last year was 77.97 million tonnes.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Utilizing Covid period as an opportunity Indian Railways has substantially increased the speed of Freight Trains. There has been 72 per cent increase in average speed of Freight Trains in the year 2020-21 as compared to last year. 94 per cent increase took place in speed of Freight Trains in August this year compared to August last year. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The latest tariff rationalisation initiatives taken by Indian Railways to boost  Freight Operations includes 5 per cent discount on loaded containers addition to 25 per cent on empty for Containers from 3rd of this month. Stabling charges for private Container and Automobile trains waived off till 31st October this year for Containers and Automobile from 3rd August.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Some other Tariff Rationalisation initiatives taken by Indian Railways to boost  Freight Operations are, withdrawal of Busy Season charge ,15 per cent for all sectors except Coal, Iron ore and containers from 1st October last year, withdrawal of 5  per cent surcharge of two point or mini rakes  for Cement, Iron and steel, Food grains, Fertilizers, Bulk BOG from 1st October last year.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Latest Non-Tariff initiatives taken by Indian Railways to boost  Freight Operations are, two point unloading permitted for Automobiles sector from 5th of this month.Limit on number of Co-users in Private siding removed for All sectors from 18th August. All private sidings or Good sheds or Private freight terminals opened up for Parcel traffic from 18th of this month.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Apart from this, Railways has set up Business Development Units at Divisions, Zones and Board level. It has also started time tabled parcel trains and Kisan rail.</span><br />''