NTPC and Indian Railways to improve coal transportation infra

The National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) told the media that the railways have agreed to its proposal for improving infrastructure by doubling the railway tracks and augmenting coal transport in Jharkhand. NTPC, a government-owned power utility company, is now planning to expand coal production at its Pakri-Barwadih captive mine in Hazaribagh to satisfy the growing demand from the power generating units. The NTPC said that it has been in constant contact with the railways for the doubling of the railway tracks to transport the coal. The NTPC told the media that the railways have agreed to its proposal including commissioning of a loading bulb at Banadag yard and making provisions for a ‘Y’ section on Hazaribagh and Koderma railway lines. These provisions will improve coal transport by 50%, it said. Several top officials of the railways visited the Banadag railway siding at the Pakri-Barwadih coal mining project and met officials of NTPC to discuss the increase in coal loading. NTPC officials said the maximum load-carrying capacity is ten rakes in a day from the Banadag siding, corresponding to 39,000 tonnes currently. An NTPC official said that since coal is dispatched to 40 power generating units across the country, augmentation of the coal dispatch infrastructure would support us in obtaining coal reserves in these power plants. While NTPC is funding the infrastructure development work at the Banadag siding, the railways have urged the NTPC to consider financial participation in the project for the doubling of the Koderma-Hazaribagh line. Image Source Also read: CIL nods increase in coal evacuation facility charges