Railways readies plan to ease coal transport for summer

02 Apr 2024 CW Team

It has been reported that after the completion of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) between Punjab and Bihar towards the end of the previous year, the Ministry of Railways will heavily rely on the completed network to prevent another coal crisis. It is expected that the EDFC will alleviate congestion on main routes such as Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction (formerly known as Mughalsarai), which is a highly congested point causing delays of more than six hours on peak passenger/coal transport days.

In 2022, more than 1,100 trains had to be canceled by the railways during the peak travel season due to severe coal shortages at several thermal power plants (TPPs) across the country.

A senior official in the Ministry of Railways mentioned that the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCCIL) has the capability to operate long-haul trains during peak seasons, effectively doubling coal movement output. He stated that utilizing the additional capacity from long-haul trains would enable the shifting of 100 additional rakes from the mixed-use tracks to the freight corridor, if necessary. Additionally, the official noted that various expansion projects in coal-rich states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh would soon be completed, facilitating faster cargo evacuation.

At present, approximately 65-70 rakes of coal are transported on the eastern corridor daily. Although the corridor itself doesn't directly connect to coal-rich areas, it facilitates smooth movement on mixed-use tracks for passenger and other freight services by diverting coal traffic to freight lines. It is stated that one rake of coal comprises 59 wagons, and power plants can utilize 10 rakes of coal to generate 1800 MW of electricity.

During the fiscal year 2023-24, railways transported 76 million tonnes (mt) of coal, slightly higher than the 74 mt transported in FY23. This increase was attributed partly to lower-than-expected power demand during the peak season and capacity saturation in railways due to incomplete end-to-end movement on the EDFC last summer. Officials from the Union Ministry of Coal expressed confidence in the absence of domestic coal shortages this year, citing recent efforts to alleviate congestion in the coal transport network and improve logistics management planning.

An official mentioned that Coal India achieved record production levels during the year, with significant contributions from private mines as well. He stated that this year, compared to the previous year, the financial year will end with over 15 days of coal stock remaining at thermal power plants. Additionally, it was mentioned that the Ministry of Railways has committed to increasing the daily allotment of rakes for coal transportation to 395, up from 360 the previous year.

The railway and coal ministries are revising logistics plans with the aim of enhancing coal movement to meet the escalating power demand in the country during the peak summer period. It has been mentioned by officials that the Centre, which historically faced challenges regarding coal transportation for thermal power plants from April to October, anticipates a more efficient supply chain this year. It has been reported that after the completion of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) between Punjab and Bihar towards the end of the previous year, the Ministry of Railways will heavily rely on the completed network to prevent another coal crisis. It is expected that the EDFC will alleviate congestion on main routes such as Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction (formerly known as Mughalsarai), which is a highly congested point causing delays of more than six hours on peak passenger/coal transport days. In 2022, more than 1,100 trains had to be canceled by the railways during the peak travel season due to severe coal shortages at several thermal power plants (TPPs) across the country. A senior official in the Ministry of Railways mentioned that the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCCIL) has the capability to operate long-haul trains during peak seasons, effectively doubling coal movement output. He stated that utilizing the additional capacity from long-haul trains would enable the shifting of 100 additional rakes from the mixed-use tracks to the freight corridor, if necessary. Additionally, the official noted that various expansion projects in coal-rich states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh would soon be completed, facilitating faster cargo evacuation. At present, approximately 65-70 rakes of coal are transported on the eastern corridor daily. Although the corridor itself doesn't directly connect to coal-rich areas, it facilitates smooth movement on mixed-use tracks for passenger and other freight services by diverting coal traffic to freight lines. It is stated that one rake of coal comprises 59 wagons, and power plants can utilize 10 rakes of coal to generate 1800 MW of electricity. During the fiscal year 2023-24, railways transported 76 million tonnes (mt) of coal, slightly higher than the 74 mt transported in FY23. This increase was attributed partly to lower-than-expected power demand during the peak season and capacity saturation in railways due to incomplete end-to-end movement on the EDFC last summer. Officials from the Union Ministry of Coal expressed confidence in the absence of domestic coal shortages this year, citing recent efforts to alleviate congestion in the coal transport network and improve logistics management planning. An official mentioned that Coal India achieved record production levels during the year, with significant contributions from private mines as well. He stated that this year, compared to the previous year, the financial year will end with over 15 days of coal stock remaining at thermal power plants. Additionally, it was mentioned that the Ministry of Railways has committed to increasing the daily allotment of rakes for coal transportation to 395, up from 360 the previous year.