Govt Plans 102 First-Mile Connectivity Projects By FY30 To Modernise Coal Transport: Coal Minister

New Delhi, Aug 19 (KNN) The Ministry of Coal has outlined plans to establish 102 first-mile connectivity (FMC) projects by FY30 in a bid to modernise coal evacuation and reduce dependence on road transport.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said 44 FMC projects with a combined capacity of 429.5 million tonnes per year (MTY) are currently operational. 

Another 58 projects are expected to be commissioned before FY30.

FMC systems replace conventional road-based transportation of coal with mechanised solutions such as closed conveyor belts, rapid loading systems, and integrated coal handling plants. 

Officials said these projects are designed to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating large-scale diesel truck movement, while also improving efficiency in coal evacuation.

“The total capital expenditure envisaged for FMC projects is about Rs 31,367 crore. This investment covers mechanised coal handling plants, rapid loading systems, conveyor networks, integrated silos, railway sidings, and related infrastructure for seamless coal evacuation,” Reddy informed Parliament.

He added that the mechanised systems help preserve coal quality by limiting manual handling and reducing transit losses. 

Operational and transport costs are also lowered through energy-efficient conveyance directly to rail sidings or loading points. 

Additionally, reduced road traffic is expected to improve occupational safety and working conditions in mining areas.

By 2029-30, nearly 90 percent of coal output from India’s three largest public sector undertakings is projected to be transported through FMC systems.

(KNN Bureau)