Minister outlines progress on coal evacuation projects in Rajya Sabha.
Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Shri Satish Chandra Dubey informed the Rajya Sabha that the Ministry of Coal has undertaken 139 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects with a combined capacity of 1,319 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) for implementation by FY 2029-30. Of these, 72 projects with a cumulative capacity of about 589 MTPA have been commissioned, while the remaining 67 projects are at various stages of implementation, tendering and planning. He added that under the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy, 2030, five of the eight identified railway projects have been commissioned, with the remaining three scheduled for completion by FY 2028, while the Ministry of Coal has also identified 33 critical railway projects to strengthen future coal evacuation.
The Minister said the Government is implementing an Integrated Coal Logistics Plan in coordination with the Ministries of Railways, Power and Ports, Shipping and Waterways to improve multimodal coal transportation and reduce logistics costs. The plan aims to increase the share of coal transported by rail to 75 per cent by FY 2030, while promoting mechanised coal handling, coastal shipping and inland waterways. He noted that inadequate rail capacity, delays in project clearances, operational constraints in railway rake availability, road congestion and limited multimodal connectivity remain key challenges affecting coal evacuation. According to the Minister, the ongoing infrastructure initiatives are expected to improve coal dispatch efficiency, reduce dependence on road transport and support the projected growth in domestic coal production through FY 2029-30.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
