Lok Sabha Question No. 245 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Progress of First Mile Connectivity Projects
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Khagen Murmu, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 245 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025

## Progress of First Mile Connectivity Projects

## *245. Shri Khagen Murmu:

Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a) the current progress of the First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects being implemented by Coal India Limited (CIL), Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL), project-wise along with the details of completion status;
- (b) the quantum of coal presently transported through mechanised, eco-friendly FMC systems as compared to the Ministry's target;
- (c) the number of FMC projects that have faced delays along with the reasons and the revised timelines for completion;
- (d) whether the Government has undertaken any third-party assessments to evaluate the impact of FMC systems on logistics efficiency, dust reduction and cost competitiveness; and
- (e) if so, the details of key findings thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (e):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  245  FOR  REPLY  ON  17.12.2025 REGARDING PROGRESS OF FIRST MILE CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS ASKED BY SHRI KHAGEN MURMU AND SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT.

(a): The current progress of the First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects being implemented by Coal India Limited (CIL), Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and Neyveli Lignite Corporation  India  Limited  (NLCIL)  is  attached  at  Annexure-I.  The  total  capacity  of commissioned projects is 552 MT.

(b):  During April-November 2025 (FY 2025-26), a total of 180.84 million tonnes (MT) has been transported by CIL and SCCL through FMC systems against the target of 300 MT for FY 2025-26.

(c): The completion of 19 FMC projects has been delayed mainly due to constraints related to land availability, statutory forest clearances, issues arising from  local resistance, rail connectivity issues etc.

Further, as per the revised timelines, all these projects are expected to be completed by FY 2028.

(d) & (e):  Coal India Limited had engaged a third party to study 35 FMC projects to assess the environmental and economic impact of these projects. As per the study, for a capacity of 351.5 MTY, the road based trips shall reduce by 32,295 trips per day which will result in an annual reduction  of  2.31  lakh  Tonne  CO2-equivalent,  a  considerable  reduction  in  fugitive  dust emission and annual savings of ₹2,100 crores due to reduction in diesel consumption.

Currently, with total capacity of all FMC projects (including CIL) at 552 MT, it is expected that there would be annual savings of approx. ₹3,300 crores per annum at full capacity.

Apart from diesel cost saving, First Mile Connectivity (FMC) enables faster, environmentfriendly coal evacuation with reduced road congestion, improved rake turnaround time, and accurate,  sized,  quality-compliant  loading  through  mechanized  and  digitally  monitored systems.

*****

## A. Commissioned Projects

|   Sr. No. | Name                              | Company   | Capacity (MTPA)   |
|-----------|-----------------------------------|-----------|-------------------|
|         1 | Amlohri CHPPh-I                   | NCL       | 12                |
|         2 | Amlohri CHPPh-II                  | NCL       |                   |
|         3 | Khadia CHPPh-I                    | NCL       | 10                |
|         4 | Khadia CHPPh-II                   | NCL       |                   |
|         5 | Nigahi CHPPh-I                    | NCL       | 15                |
|         6 | Nigahi CHPPh-II                   | NCL       |                   |
|         7 | Nigahi CHPPh-III                  | NCL       |                   |
|         8 | Jayant CHPPh-I                    | NCL       | 10.5              |
|         9 | Jayant CHPPh-II                   | NCL       |                   |
|        10 | Dudhichua CHPPh-I                 | NCL       | 10                |
|        11 | Dudhichua CHPPh-II                | NCL       |                   |
|        12 | Block-B CHP                       | NCL       | 3.5               |
|        13 | Bina CHP                          | NCL       | 4.5               |
|        14 | Kakri CHP                         | NCL       | 3.5               |
|        15 | Rajmahal                          | ECL       | 10                |
|        16 | Piparwar OCP                      | CCL       | 6.5               |
|        17 | Gevra                             | SECL      | 30                |
|        18 | Dipka                             | SECL      | 15                |
|        19 | Bharatpur Ph-I                    | MCL       | 5                 |
|        20 | Bharatpur Ph-II                   | MCL       | 15                |
|        21 | Sonepur Bazari CHP SILO           | ECL       | 12.0              |
|        22 | Krishnashila CHPSILO              | NCL       | 4.0               |
|        23 | Block-B Rail Connectivity         | NCL       | -                 |
|        24 | Jayant CHPSILO                    | NCL       | 15.0              |
|        25 | Kusmunda Ph-I CHPSILO             | SECL      | 10.0              |
|        26 | Kusmunda Ph-II CHPSILO            | SECL      | 40.0              |
|        27 | Gevra RLS Siding                  | SECL      | 20.0              |
|        28 | Lingraj CHPSILO                   | MCL       | 16.0              |
|        29 | Bhubaneswari Ph-I CHP SILO        | MCL       | 10.0              |
|        30 | Lajkura RLS Siding                | MCL       | 15.0              |
|        31 | North Urimari CHP SILO            | CCL       | 7.5               |
|        32 | Dudhichua Ph-III CHPSILO          | NCL       | 10.0              |
|        33 | Dipka RLS Siding                  | SECL      | 25.0              |
|        34 | Baroud CHPSILO                    | SECL      | 10.0              |
|        35 | Chhal CHPSILO                     | SECL      | 6.0               |
|        36 | Amlohri RLS Siding                | NCL       | 2.0               |
|        37 | Sardega RLS Siding                | MCL       | 20.0              |
|        38 | Dudhichua RLS Siding              | NCL       | 5.0               |
|        39 | Bhubaneswari Ph-II CHPSILO        | MCL       | 15.0              |
|        40 | Dinesh CHPSILO                    | WCL       | 8.0               |
|        41 | Maheshpur CHPSILO                 | BCCL      | 5.0               |
|        42 | Bina-Kakri CHP SILO               | NCL       | 9.5               |
|        43 | Kusmunda Ph-III (In Pit Conveyor) | SECL      | -                 |
|        44 | RCHP                              | SCCL      | 9                 |
|        45 | JVR EPC CHP*                      | SCCL      | 10                |
|        46 | YCHP-Wharf                        | SCCL      | 3.5               |

## Annexure-I

| Sr. No.   | Name               | Company   |   Capacity (MTPA) |
|-----------|--------------------|-----------|-------------------|
| 47        | KCHP               | SCCL      |              10   |
| 48        | GDK 1 CSP          | SCCL      |               5   |
| 49        | OC3 &6CHP          | SCCL      |               7   |
| 50        | OC1 CHP            | SCCL      |               9   |
| 51        | Uppal Siding-Wharf | SCCL      |               1   |
| 52        | GOLETI CHP         | SCCL      |               3.5 |
| 53        | RKPCHP             | SCCL      |               4   |
| 54        | SRPCHP             | SCCL      |               5   |
| 55        | SRPOC CHP*         | SCCL      |               3.5 |
|           | Total              |           |             486   |

In addition, 10 FMC projects are commissioned by private coal blocks having capacity of 66 MT.

- B. To be commissioned projects

|   S. No. | Name of Project                                     | Sub.   |   Capacity (MTY) | Anticipated Date of Completion   |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------|--------|------------------|----------------------------------|
|        1 | Kumardih-BCMUGCHP                                   | ECL    |              1   | 31.12.2025                       |
|        2 | Nigahi CHPSILO                                      | NCL    |             10   | 31.12.2025                       |
|        3 | Ananta RLS Siding                                   | MCL    |             20   | 31.03.2026                       |
|        4 | Manikpur CHP SILO                                   | SECL   |              5   | 31.12.2025                       |
|        5 | Rajmahal CHPSILO                                    | ECL    |             10   | 30.06.2026                       |
|        6 | Kaniha RLS Siding                                   | MCL    |             10   | 15.03.2026                       |
|        7 | Lakhanpur- Belpahar-Lilari Ph-I CHPSILO             | MCL    |             10   | 15.03.2026                       |
|        8 | Hingula CHPSILO                                     | MCL    |             10   | 30.06.2026                       |
|        9 | Mungoli Nirguda CHPSILO                             | WCL    |             10   | 31.01.2026                       |
|       10 | Jhanjra UG CHPSILO                                  | ECL    |              5   | 30.06.2026                       |
|       11 | KDH-Purnadih CHP-SILO                               | CCL    |              7.5 | 28.02.2026                       |
|       12 | Block-B CHPSILO                                     | NCL    |              4.5 | 31.03.2026                       |
|       13 | Khadia CHPSILO                                      | NCL    |              4   | 31.03.2026                       |
|       14 | Karo OCP Exp. CHPSILO                               | CCL    |              7   | 30.06.2026                       |
|       15 | Gevra Silo 5 &6CHPSILO with In-Pit Conveyor         | SECL   |             30   | 30.06.2026                       |
|       16 | Konar CHPSILO                                       | CCL    |              5   | 31.08.2026                       |
|       17 | Hurra-C CHPSILO                                     | ECL    |              3   | 31.12.2026                       |
|       18 | Integrated FMC for Gauri Pauni Exp. OC and Sasti OC | WCL    |             10   | 13.12.2026                       |
|       19 | Kulda Garjanbahal In-pit conveyor with TLS          | MCL    |              5   | 30.11.2027                       |
|       20 | Lakhanpur-Belpahar-Lilari Ph- II CHPSILO            | MCL    |             20   | 30.11.2027                       |
|       21 | Rampur Batura CHPSILO                               | SECL   |              4   | 31.12.2027                       |
|       22 | Amrapali CHPSILO                                    | CCL    |             25   | 31.12.2027                       |
|       23 | Ashok - Piparwar CHPSILO                            | CCL    |             20   | 14.02.2028                       |
|       24 | Sanghmitra CHPSILO                                  | CCL    |             20   | 27.02.2028                       |
|       25 | Porda Chimtapani CHPSILO                            | SECL   |             10   | 31.03.2028                       |

| S. No.   | Name of Project                        | Sub.   |   Capacity (MTY) | Anticipated Date of Completion   |
|----------|----------------------------------------|--------|------------------|----------------------------------|
| 26       | Chandragupt CHPSILO (MDO)              | CCL    |             15   | FY2027-28                        |
| 27       | Kotre Basantpur Panchmo CHP SILO (MDO) | CCL    |              5   | FY2027-28                        |
| 28       | Parasea-Belbaid UG CHP (MDO)           | ECL    |              2.1 | FY2027-28                        |
| 29       | Tilaboni UG CHP(MDO)                   | ECL    |              1.9 | FY2027-28                        |
| 30       | Amalgmated Inder Kamptee Deep OC       | WCL    |              3.2 | FY2027-28                        |
| 31       | Siarmal Surge Bins (MDO)               | MCL    |             50   | 31.01.2028                       |
| 32       | Balbhadra CHPSILO (MDO)                | MCL    |             10   | 31.03.2028                       |
| 33       | Jarangdih CHPSILO                      | CCL    |              1.5 | 27.04.2028                       |
| 34       | Swang Pipradih CHPSILO                 | CCL    |              2   | 30.05.2028                       |
| 35       | Magadh CHP SILO                        | CCL    |             51   | 30.06.2028                       |
| 36       | Kulda Garjanbahal CHP SILO             | MCL    |             43   | 30.09.2028                       |
| 37       | Balaram CHPSILO                        | MCL    |             17.5 | 30.11.2028                       |
| 38       | Siduli UG +OC CHP                      | ECL    |              2.3 | 27.10.2028                       |
| 39       | Rohini Karketta CHPSILO                | CCL    |             10   | 30.12.2028                       |
| 40       | Pundi Expn. CHPSILO                    | CCL    |              5   | 30.12.2028                       |
| 41       | Mohanpur CHPSILO                       | ECL    |              2.5 | 31.12.2028                       |
| 42       | Bonjemehari Expn. CHP                  | ECL    |              1   | 28.02.2029                       |
| 43       | Pelma CHPSILO (MDO)                    | SECL   |             15   | FY2028-29                        |
| 44       | Madannagar CHPSILO (MDO)               | SECL   |             12   | FY2028-29                        |
| 45       | Gopalji Kaniha Ph-II CHP SILO          | MCL    |             20   | 31.03.2029                       |
| 46       | Durgapur CHPSILO                       | SECL   |              6   | FY2028-29                        |
| 47       | Subhadra CHPSILO (MDO)                 | MCL    |             25   | 30.10.2028                       |
| 48       | Moonidih XVSeam UG CHP                 | BCCL   |              2.5 | FY2028-29                        |
| 49       | NTST Kujama OC CHP SILO (MDO)          | BCCL   |              8.5 | FY2028-29                        |
| 50       | Talabira II&III OCP                    | NLCIL  |              8   | March 2026                       |
| 51       | PSCB                                   | NLCIL  |              9   | Dec-2025                         |
| 52       | North Dhadu                            | NLCIL  |              4.5 | FY2029-30                        |
| 53       | Machhakata                             | NLCIL  |             30   | FY2029-30                        |
| 54       | New Patrapara South:                   | NLCIL  |             12   | FY2029-30                        |
| 55       | RG OC3 (6 CHP)                         | SCCL   |              5   | March-2026                       |
| 56       | VK CHP(relay of existing RCHP.)        | SCCL   |              6   | 2027-28                          |
| 57       | Naini CHP                              | SCCL   |             10   | 2028-29                          |
|          | TOTAL                                  |        |            662.5 |                                  |

In addition, 17 FMC projects are planned by private coal blocks having capacity of 104 MT.