Coal Ministry to implement additional 19 first-mile connectivity projects

3 Jan 2023 , 01:21 PM

The Centre announced that state-owned CIL and SCCL will implement an additional 19 first-mile connectivity projects by 2026-27. The transportation of coal from pitheads to dispatch points is referred to as first-mile connectivity.

The Ministry of Coal will undertake additional 19 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects with a capacity of 330 million tonnes (MT) for Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), which will be completed by FY26-27.

The ministry has already invested Rs18,000 crore in 55 first-mile connectivity projects. Eight of the 55 projects have been completed, with a total capacity of 95.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), and the remaining will be completed by FY25.

The government is developing the National Coal Logistic Plan to ensure efficient and environmentally friendly coal evacuation, including first-mile connectivity through railway sidings near coal mines and strengthening the rail network in coalfields.

The coal ministry has set a target of 1.31 billion tonnes (BT) of coal production by FY25 and 1.5 BT by FY30. In this context, it is critical to developing coal transportation that is cost-effective, fast, and environmentally friendly.

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