Indian Railways has reportedly cancelled several passenger trains in order to expedite coal delivery due to the severity of the oncoming power crisis caused by a coal scarcity in major thermal units.
On Friday, Railways reportedly informed passengers that it had entirely cancelled 164 trains and partially cancelled 33 others. The action is merely temporary, and passenger rail services will resume as soon as the situation returns to normal, according to the statement.
In the past, India has experienced roadblocks in moving toward clean energy as coal generates roughly 70% of its electricity. Several states are experiencing power blackouts owing to coal shortages. Industries are being forced to function below capacity due to power deficits, affecting the economy’s post-pandemic recovery. This might also trigger inflation amid struggles to combat high energy prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Indian Railways is frequently blamed for disruptions in coal supplies, as the lack of train carriages makes long-distance transportation of the fossil fuel difficult. Shipments are sometimes delayed due to congested routes where passenger and freight trains compete for passage. Nonetheless, Railways still remains a popular method of transporting coal, particularly for units located far from mines. In order to meet the rising demand for coal amid the crisis, Indian Railways is also planning to add 1,00,000 more carriages to its fleet. It is also building dedicated freight corridors to expedite the delivery of goods. Meanwhile, Railways’ Executive Director (Information & Publicity), Gaurav Krishna Bansal, has reportedly ensured that all the passenger services are restored soon.
