CIL targets ₹15,700-cr transport infrastructure

Coal India has fast-tracked the coal evacuation by investing ₹15,700 crore in its first-mile connectivity (FMC) projects. The company has already transported 151 mt of coal through a mechanized system, loads through the Coal Handling Plants (CHP) and Silos from 19 projects, which will be increased to 557 mt by 2023-24. Under Phase-I, the state-owned company has zeroed down on 35 projects, each having 4 mt of capacity from six of its subsidiaries with a capital of ₹ 2,300 crore, with their combined project capacity of 406 mt. Under phase-2, 14 additional projects will entail an investment of ₹3,400 crore with a capacity to handle 100.5 mt of coal. Of the 14 projects in phase II, Central Coalfields (CCL) accounts for 5 with 62.5 mt per annum capacity. Mahanadi Coalfields with one project has 20 mt per annum capacity. Eastern Coalfields has 7 projects and South Eastern Coalfields has one project with a capacity of 14 and 4 mt per annum, respectively. FMC is the transporter of coal from pitheads to the dispatching points. It aims to replace the existing road transport with a seamless mechanized coal transport through conveyor belts, which will reduce dust pollution and have the added benefit of computer-aided loading of railway wagons.