Government announces new railway plan to reduce coal transportation costs from mines by Rs 21,000 crore annually
New Delhi, Feb 29 (IANS) Union Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi unveiled the revolutionary ‘Coal Logistics Plan and Policy’ to shift towards a railway-based system for coal evacuation, reducing transport costs by 14% and saving Rs 21,000 crore annually.
The plan focuses on establishing a railway-based system for coal evacuation from mines, reducing reliance on trucks. This move is expected to decrease air pollution, traffic congestion, and carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes per year and improve wagon turnaround time by 10%.
Minister Joshi highlighted the importance of integrated transportation systems, specifically the Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) transportation initiative, which has grown by 50% in the past five years and aims to reach 120 billion tonnes by FY 2030. The Ministry has also identified 37 critical railway projects to meet future coal evacuation needs.
Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing efficiency in coal transportation and infrastructure development. He proposed energy corridor projects, including new railway lines and capacity augmentation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum for India’s energy security and economic growth while meeting sustainability and social responsibility standards.
