Boosting Coal Transport: Ministers Drive Silo Loading Efficiency

In a bid to improve coal logistics and transportation efficiency, Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw convened a meeting on Tuesday.

The spotlight of the discussion was accelerating silo loading infrastructure, a system that significantly improves the quality and speed of coal evacuation. The benefits of silo loading, as mentioned, include uniform coal sizing, elimination of boulder-related complaints from power plants, reduced wagon damage, and operations that remain consistent regardless of adverse weather conditions.

According to a Railway Ministry statement, the share of coal loaded through silos surged from 18.8% in 2022–23 to 29% in 2025–26, marking a sustained improvement in logistics. The coal stockpiles at thermal power plants have climbed to a record 61.3 million tonnes, sufficient for a 25-day supply, fortifying energy security amid various climatic challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)