New Delhi: The government is currently overseeing the development of 13 railway lines to improve coal transportation and distribution capabilities, as stated by coal minister Pralhad Joshi in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
In a written response, the minister mentioned that the Ministry of Coal is actively collaborating with the Ministry of Railways with the aim of enhancing coal evacuation and distribution capabilities. Currently, there are 13 railway lines in different stages of construction, working in tandem with the Ministry of Railways, to expand the distribution capabilities of coal.
Furthermore, in alignment with the objectives of PM Gati Shakti, the Ministry of coal has undertaken 67 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects. These projects have the purpose of achieving mechanized handling of coal, amounting to a combined capacity of 885 million tonnes (MT).
In three phases, the ministry aims to accomplish a capacity of nearly 1 billion tonnes (BT) of mechanized coal handling, showcasing the extensive scale and ambition of this initiative.
Joshi also highlighted that the Ministry of Coal has allocated a significant budget of Rs. 26,000 Crore for railway projects, as part of their commitment to develop multimodal connectivity and enhance coal distribution capabilities.
Moreover, to ensure effective coordination among all stakeholders involved in coal transportation, a dedicated sub-group has been formed, consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, and state authorities.
