Railways and Coal Ministries push for faster, cleaner coal movement through expanded silo loading across key coalfields.
Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held a joint review meeting to assess coal transportation efficiency, with a sharp focus on silo-based loading infrastructure.
According to a press note from the Railway Ministry, silo loading offers several advantages: improved coal sizing, reduced damage to wagons, minimal complaints from power plants, and seamless operations unaffected by adverse weather. These improvements aim to enhance the speed and reliability of coal evacuation.
The share of coal transported via silos has significantly increased, from 18.8% in FY23 to 29% in FY26 (year-to-date), reflecting ongoing efforts to modernise logistics systems. The ministers evaluated current and proposed projects for expanding silo infrastructure in major coalfields and emphasised the need for robust inter-ministerial coordination to ensure a seamless mine-to-plant supply chain.
The Railway Ministry also highlighted that coal stocks at thermal power plants have reached a record 61.3 million tonnes, enough to meet 25 days of consumption, bolstering energy security ahead of the monsoon.
Source: Rediff
