New Delhi, May 5: The Railways Department has decided to cancel most trains in the country due to shortage of coal. Railways has canceled 1100 trains till May 24 to speed up the transportation of coal.
The burning summer begins in March this year. As a result, demand for electrical energy has risen rapidly. The coal shortage has intensified since April. There are only 2-three days of coal left in the nation. Thus the railway has canceled passenger trains and increased the movement of coal trains. As a result, the movement of coal trains has now been facilitated. As a result, some of the passenger train will be disrupted for a few days.
Indian Railways has canceled several passenger trains for the transportation of goods transporting coal. The move comes at a time when various states are facing shortage of coal. Electricity generation is decreasing in various states amid summer heat. About 70% of the country’s electricity is generated by coal. Indian Railways supplies coal to power generating units.
Boredom on Indian Railways
Many states have already implemented power cuts in the wake of power shortages. This has also caused industries to suffer. It is estimated that the lack of electricity will also affect the economic situation. Indian Railways are shifting away from coal supply. Trains traveling to remote areas are being blamed for taking too much time. Against this backdrop, the priority of the transport of goods trains.
Coal miners strike
As of May 24, 1,100 trains have been canceled to facilitate the movement of coal trains. About 500 trips for express mail trains and 580 trips for passenger trains have been canceled. On April 29, the Railways announced the cancellation of 240 passenger trains to facilitate the movement of at least 400 trains across the country. In addition, the ongoing strike of coal miners in various parts of the country is now raising concerns of the government.
States facing too much coal shortage
The central government is expected to increase electricity demand in May. Because of this, more and more coal is being supplied to power plants of various states. According to the report, most states have a coal crisis except for those with coal reserves. Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are the most coal-deficient states. Maharashtra is also hoping to increase electricity demand soon.
A few days power supply
In a recent report, out of 173 power plants, 108 coal inventories were reported to be at their lowest level, making it possible to meet power demand in just a few days. However, the central government claims that the number of coal vehicles has increased significantly. The stock is expected to equalize in the next few days, it said.
English summary
Indian Railways has canceled several passenger trains till May 24 for transport of goods.
Story first published: Thursday, May 5, 2022, 13:33 [IST]
