New Delhi, February 28 – The Indian government announced on Friday that coal transportation through the Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) route has nearly doubled, reaching 54 million tonnes (MT) in FY24, compared to 28 MT in FY22.
The RSR route is a crucial multi-modal logistics system used to transport coal from mines to power plants across the country. This process involves two phases of rail transport—first, from the mines to an unloading port, and then from a subsequent loading port to power plants.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Coal, coordinated efforts with the Railways have significantly improved the efficiency of coal movement. The rising adoption of the RSR route has helped in decongesting the all-rail route (ARR) while enhancing logistical efficiencies and lowering the carbon footprint.
Government Push for Increased RSR Utilization
To further boost coal transportation via the RSR route, Indian Railways recently introduced a telescopic benefit in freight rates. Effective from February, this initiative applies to coal transported to power plants from Coal India Ltd (CIL) mines and its subsidiaries, making long-haul coal movement more cost-effective.The Coal Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the RSR strategy to keep pace with India’s growing energy demands. With coal remaining a dominant fuel source for power generation, enhancing transportation efficiency is critical to ensuring an uninterrupted supply to thermal power plants nationwide.
This development marks a major step towards optimizing India's coal logistics, reducing transit time, and enhancing energy security as the country works towards meeting its power requirements efficiently.