India's Thermal Plants Boost Coal Stocks by 33%

02 Jul 2024 CW Team

India's domestic coal-based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) have fortified their coal reserves, with stocks reaching 44.46 million tonnes marking a substantial 33% surge from the previous year. According to a statement from the Ministry of Coal, this reserve is sufficient to meet current consumption levels for 18.5 days, bolstering energy security amidst seasonal challenges.

The first quarter of the fiscal year witnessed a commendable growth in coal production by 10.58%, accompanied by an 8.50% improvement in coal supply, highlighting a robust start to the year. Anticipating the onset of the monsoon, known to impact coal production, the ministry has strategically secured a stockpile of 98.67 million tonnes at mine pitheads. This proactive measure represents a 33.5% increase compared to the same period last year.

Presently, the coal stock at TPPs fulfills 68% of the normative requirement, a significant rise from 50% recorded around this time last year. Throughout the fiscal year 23-24, no shortage of coal was reported at these plants, with stocks standing at over 47 million tonnes by the end of March 2024. The ministry aims to sustain similar levels this fiscal year, both at TPPs and mine pitheads.

Moreover, an increase of 10.54% in the availability of rakes/days over the previous year ensures consistent coal supplies during the challenging monsoon season. The ministries of coal, railways, and power are closely collaborating to maintain uninterrupted coal availability for all domestic coal-based TPPs.

This proactive approach by the Ministry of Coal underscores India's commitment to safeguarding energy stability amidst seasonal fluctuations, ensuring continuous power supply across the nation's Thermal Power Plants.

Infrastructure Transport

12 Mar 2026

Kavach 4.0 Commissioned on Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah

"Kavach version four has been commissioned on 1,452 route km, covering the high density Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah corridors. The rollout included laying 8,570 km of optical fibre, installation of 1,100 telecom towers, deployment of trackside equipment over 6,776 RKm and establishment of 767 station data centres. Trackside implementation has been taken up on 24,427 RKm covering Golden Quadrilateral, Golden Diagonal and High Density Network sections. The programme aims to strengthen signalling and train protection on key routes.Kavach is an indigenously developed automatic train protecti..

Railways Advance Kalyan–Murbad Line And Mumbai Capacity Expansion

"Indian Railways is advancing multiple rail infrastructure projects in Maharashtra, including the sanctioned Kalyan–Murbad new line and sizable investments under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project. The Kalyan–Murbad 28 km new line has been sanctioned at Rs 8.36 billion (bn) on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis with the Government of Maharashtra and has been declared a Special Railway Project for land acquisition; proposals covering 214 hectares are at various stages of acquisition. Budgetary outlay for projects falling fully or partly in Maharash..

Parliamentary Panel Flags Funding Gaps in Heavy Industries

"The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry (Rajya Sabha) presented its 332nd report on the Demands for Grants 2026-27 of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI). Figures converted from crore and lakh are expressed in million (mn). The Budget Estimates 2026-27 for the Ministry stand at Rs 79,399 mn against a projected requirement of Rs 94,843.2 mn, a shortfall of about 16 per cent, with revenue at Rs 79,370.8 mn and capital compressed to Rs 28.2 mn from Rs 5,020 mn.The committee flagged recurring BE-to-RE compression and declining revised estimate utilisation, and calle..