The Union ministry of power has advised state-run power generators – both Central PSUs and state government utilities – to have their railway rakes fleet for coal evacuation from the mines. In a letter to NTPC, DVC and six state government units, the ministry said while the railways was taking steps to procure additional rakes, gencos should take steps to procure their own rakes to address the problem of coal supply logistics.
The railway ministry already has a scheme — General Purpose Wagon Investment Scheme (GPWIS) — under which users can buy and own their own rakes. In fact, NTPC has already procured some rakes under the scheme.
