India Improves Coal Logistics & Transport

In a significant move to enhance coal transportation efficiency, Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw convened a high-level review meeting on Tuesday focused on improving coal logistics infrastructure across India.

The meeting emphasized the urgent need to accelerate silo loading infrastructure, which plays a pivotal role in improving the bulk material handling process. According to a press note from the Ministry of Railways, silo-based coal loading enhances operational efficiency by ensuring uniform coal sizing, reducing wagon damage, eliminating complaints from thermal power plants about boulder contamination, and offering weather-resistant logistics reliability.

The push for automated coal loading systems marks a strategic step in modernizing India’s rail freight logistics, especially for the energy and mining sectors. Silo infrastructure is key to minimizing manual handling and turnaround times, thereby increasing the throughput of coal evacuation.

Notably, the share of coal loaded via silos has seen a strong upward trajectory rising from 18.8% in FY 2022–23 to 29% in FY 2025–26 (year-to-date). This sustained growth reflects a policy-driven effort to strengthen the coal supply chain network through technological upgrades and capacity expansion.

The initiative aligns with broader goals under India’s Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at improving multi-modal logistics and enhancing infrastructure efficiency across the country’s key industrial sectors.