New Delhi, Apr 4 (UNI) To ensure availability of important raw material and fuel through its freight services to meet the requirements of the power, transport and key infrastructure sectors during the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19, Indian Railways has been fulfilling its commitment and is ferrying coal and petroleum in large quantities.
Due to relentless operations of Railways, all power plants and petroleum depots have comfortable stock with them in spite of the COVID-19 lockdown.
During past 12 days from March 23 to April 3, 2020, Railways loaded and carried 250,020 wagons of coal, and 17,742 wagons of petroleum products (one wagon contains 58-60 tonne consignment).
Against 24,207 wagons of coal and 1,774 of petroleum loaded as on March 24, the day before lockdown was imposed, it has slowly picked up to 17,474 and 1,163 wagons respectively as on April 3, an official release here said.
To monitor the uninterrupted movement of materials fuelling the power, transport and infrastructure sectors and other essential commodities over Indian Railways, an emergency freight control centre is working in the Ministry of Railways.
Freight movement is being closely monitored by officials at very senior level. Issues which were earlier being faced by Railways at many terminal points in loading and unloading operations are being effectively resolved.
Indian Railways along with Ministry of Home affairs is keeping in touch with State Governments to sort out any such operational issue if they arise.
During the 21-day lockdown, Indian Railways staff deployed at various good sheds, stations and control offices have continued working to ensure that the supply of essential items for these critical sectors does not gets affected.
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