CONTENTS
- Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) Transportation
- National Judicial Data Grid
Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) Transportation
Context:
The Ministry of Coal is promoting the Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) transportation strategy, aimed at streamlining the movement of domestic coal.
Relevance:
GS III: Infrastructure
Dimensions of the Article:
- Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) Transportation
- Growth and Future Significance
- Challenges and Considerations
Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) Transportation:
Innovative Multimodal Strategy
- RSR is a pioneering multimodal transportation approach.
- Integrates rail and sea routes to ensure seamless coal movement from mines to ports and final users.
Enhanced Efficiency and Reduced Costs
- Objective: Aims to boost logistical efficiency and decrease transportation expenses.
Addressing Coal Movement Challenges
- Purpose: RSR targets efficient coal transfer from production centers to regions of consumption.
- Significant Dispatch: Around 75% of domestic raw coal dispatch originates from major coal-producing states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
- Coal Production Projection: The Ministry of Coal anticipates an increased coal production to meet escalating energy demand, with a projected CAGR of about 7.7% by FY’30.
Leveraging Coastal Shipping
- Coastal Shipping Advantage: Coastal shipping is cost-effective and environmentally conscious for transporting goods, including coal.
- Port Potential: RSR emphasizes tapping into the potential of ports along India’s Southern and Western coasts.
- Effective Distribution: Ensures streamlined coal movement to powerhouses in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
Cost Efficiency and Competitiveness
- Cost Savings: Adoption of RSR could lead to substantial cost reduction.
- Potential Savings: Estimated savings of Rs. 760-1300 per ton for end-users in Southern India.
- Competitive Edge: Cost benefits make domestically produced coal more competitive against imported coal.
Reducing Congestion and Logistics Enhancement
- Railway Dominance: Presently, railways handle 55% of coal evacuation, with a vision to elevate this to 75% by FY’30.
- Alleviating Congestion: RSR aims to alleviate congestion on conventional rail routes prone to bottlenecks due to high traffic.
Growth and Future Significance
- Remarkable Growth: Rail-sea-rail coal transportation has grown by approximately 125% in the past four years.
- Increasing Coal Production: With a predicted doubling of coal production in the next seven years, RSR’s success becomes pivotal for uninterrupted coal supply across consumption centers.
Challenges and Considerations
- Infrastructure Requirements: Efficient RSR implementation necessitates robust rail and port infrastructure.
- Risk Mitigation: Addressing potential challenges like adverse weather, technical glitches, and transport disruptions through risk mitigation strategies.
- Collaborative Execution: Seamless collaboration among Ministries involved in RSR strategy implementation is vital for smooth execution.
National Judicial Data Grid
Context:
Recently, the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) has gained significant attention for its role in revolutionizing the way judicial proceedings are managed in India.
Relevance:
GS II: Polity and Governance
Dimensions of the Article:
- National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)
National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)
Online Database for Judicial Proceedings
- NJDG serves as an online platform under the eCourts Project.
- Comprises orders, judgments, and case details from 18,735 District & Subordinate Courts and High Courts.
- Data is frequently updated by connected courts, offering insights into judicial proceedings across the country.
Features for Access and Evaluation
- Open API for Data Sharing: NJDG aligns with the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP), offering an Open API to Central & State Governments.
- Streamlined Access: Designated departmental IDs and access keys provide easy access to NJDG data.
- Institutional Litigants: Initial focus is on institutional litigants, enabling them to evaluate and monitor cases, with plans to extend access to non-institutional litigants later.
Role in Judicial Management
- Pendency Reduction: NJDG functions as a monitoring tool to identify, manage, and diminish case pendency.
- Policy Support: Offers timely inputs for policy decisions to expedite case disposal and reduce delays.
- Court Performance Monitoring: Helps in monitoring court performance, identifying systemic bottlenecks, and serving as an efficient resource management tool.
Linkage with Land Records Data
- Land Dispute Tracking: NJDG is linked with Land Records data from 26 States, aiding in tracking cases related to land disputes.
International Recognition
- World Bank Commendation: In the 2018 Ease of Doing Business report, NJDG was praised by the World Bank (WB) for generating case management reports that facilitate contract enforcement.
- Business Environment Enhancement: This recognition highlights NJDG’s role in improving the business environment through streamlined judicial processes.
