Coal & Rail Ministries deliberate ways to further accelerate mechanised process of bulk coal loading into rail wagons

 

A high-level meeting was held this week between Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Mr G. Kishan Reddy, and Union Minister of Railways, Electronics & Information Technology, and Information & Broadcasting, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, to review coal logistics and the efficiency of transportation systems.

The primary focus of the discussion was on accelerating silo loading infrastructure, which plays a critical role in improving the quality and speed of coal evacuation. Silo loading refers to the mechanised process of loading bulk materials (like coal) into railway wagons directly from a storage silo, rather than using conventional methods like front-end loaders or manual shovelling. Silo loading ensures uniform coal sizing, eliminates complaints related to oversized boulders from power plants, reduces damage to wagons, and enables reliable operations unaffected by adverse weather conditions.

Over the years, there has been a notable increase in the share of coal loaded through silos—from 18.8% in 2022-23 to 29% in 2025–26 (till date)—demonstrating a clear and sustained push towards improving coal logistics.

The Ministers reviewed ongoing and proposed projects aimed at expanding silo infrastructure across key coalfields. The meeting also underscored the need for enhanced inter-ministerial coordination to ensure seamless operations from mine to plant.

Meanwhile, in a significant achievement, the coal stock at all thermal power plants has reached an all-time high of 58.25 million tonnes, sufficient to meet 25 days of consumption. This record stockpile bolsters India’s energy security, ensures an uninterrupted power supply during the peak summer months, and provides reassurance of adequate stock for the monsoon period when coal production and transportation often face challenges due to heavy rainfall, said an official release.

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