Parliament Question: Progress of First Mile Connectivity Projects

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.

Page | 1STATEMENT 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, environment- friendly coal evacuation with reduced road congestion, improved rake turnaround time, and accurate, sized, quality-compliant loading through mechanized and digitally monitored systems.

***** Page | 2Annexure-I A. Commissioned Projects Sr. No. Name Company Capacity (MTPA) 1 Amlohri CHP Ph-I NCL 12 2 Amlohri CHP Ph-II NCL 3 Khadia CHP Ph-I NCL 10 4 Khadia CHP Ph-II NCL 5 Nigahi CHP Ph-I NCL 15 6 Nigahi CHP Ph-II NCL 7 Nigahi CHP Ph-III NCL 8 Jayant CHP Ph-I NCL 10.5 9 Jayant CHP Ph-II NCL 10 Dudhichua CHP Ph-I NCL 10 11 Dudhichua CHP Ph-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 CHP SILO NCL 4.0 23 Block-B Rail Connectivity NCL - 24 Jayant CHP SILO NCL 15.0 25 Kusmunda Ph-I CHP SILO SECL 10.0 26 Kusmunda Ph-II CHP SILO SECL 40.0 27 Gevra RLS Siding SECL 20.0 28 Lingraj CHP SILO 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 CHP SILO NCL 10.0 33 Dipka RLS Siding SECL 25.0 34 Baroud CHP SILO SECL 10.0 35 Chhal CHP SILO 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 CHP SILO MCL 15.0 40 Dinesh CHP SILO WCL 8.0 41 Maheshpur CHP SILO 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 Page | 3Sr. No. Name Company Capacity (MTPA) 47 KCHP SCCL 10 48 GDK 1 CSP SCCL 5 49 OC3 & 6 CHP SCCL 7 50 OC1 CHP SCCL 9 51 Uppal Siding-Wharf SCCL 1 52 GOLETI CHP SCCL 3.5 53 RKP CHP SCCL 4 54 SRP CHP SCCL 5 55 SRP OC 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 Capacity Anticipated Date S. No. Name of Project Sub.

(MTY) of Completion 1 Kumardih-B CM UG CHP ECL 1.0 31.12.2025 2 Nigahi CHP SILO NCL 10.0 31.12.2025 3 Ananta RLS Siding MCL 20.0 31.03.2026 4 Manikpur CHP SILO SECL 5.0 31.12.2025 5 Rajmahal CHP SILO ECL 10.0 30.06.2026 6 Kaniha RLS Siding MCL 10.0 15.03.2026 Lakhanpur- Belpahar-Lilari Ph-I 7 MCL 10.0 15.03.2026 CHP SILO 8 Hingula CHP SILO MCL 10.0 30.06.2026 9 Mungoli Nirguda CHP SILO WCL 10.0 31.01.2026 10 Jhanjra UG CHP SILO ECL 5.0 30.06.2026 11 KDH-Purnadih CHP-SILO CCL 7.5 28.02.2026 12 Block-B CHP SILO NCL 4.5 31.03.2026 13 Khadia CHP SILO NCL 4.0 31.03.2026 14 Karo OCP Exp. CHP SILO CCL 7.0 30.06.2026 Gevra Silo 5 & 6 CHP SILO 15 SECL 30.0 30.06.2026 with In-Pit Conveyor 16 Konar CHP SILO CCL 5.0 31.08.2026 17 Hurra-C CHP SILO ECL 3.0 31.12.2026 Integrated FMC for Gauri Pauni 18 WCL 10.0 13.12.2026 Exp. OC and Sasti OC Kulda Garjanbahal In-pit 19 MCL 5.0 30.11.2027 conveyor with TLS Lakhanpur-Belpahar-Lilari Ph- 20 MCL 20.0 30.11.2027 II CHP SILO 21 Rampur Batura CHP SILO SECL 4.0 31.12.2027 22 Amrapali CHP SILO CCL 25.0 31.12.2027 23 Ashok - Piparwar CHP SILO CCL 20.0 14.02.2028 24 Sanghmitra CHP SILO CCL 20.0 27.02.2028 25 Porda Chimtapani CHP SILO SECL 10.0 31.03.2028 Page | 4Capacity Anticipated Date S. No. Name of Project Sub.

(MTY) of Completion Chandragupt CHP SILO 26 CCL 15.0 FY 2027-28

(MDO) Kotre Basantpur Panchmo CHP 27 CCL 5.0 FY 2027-28 SILO (MDO) Parasea-Belbaid UG CHP 28 ECL 2.1 FY 2027-28

(MDO) 29 Tilaboni UG CHP (MDO) ECL 1.9 FY 2027-28 Amalgmated Inder Kamptee 30 WCL 3.2 FY 2027-28 Deep OC 31 Siarmal Surge Bins (MDO) MCL 50.0 31.01.2028 32 Balbhadra CHP SILO (MDO) MCL 10.0 31.03.2028 33 Jarangdih CHP SILO CCL 1.5 27.04.2028 34 Swang Pipradih CHP SILO CCL 2.0 30.05.2028 35 Magadh CHP SILO CCL 51.0 30.06.2028 36 Kulda Garjanbahal CHP SILO MCL 43.0 30.09.2028 37 Balaram CHP SILO MCL 17.5 30.11.2028 38 Siduli UG +OC CHP ECL 2.3 27.10.2028 39 Rohini Karketta CHP SILO CCL 10.0 30.12.2028 40 Pundi Expn. CHP SILO CCL 5.0 30.12.2028 41 Mohanpur CHP SILO ECL 2.5 31.12.2028 42 Bonjemehari Expn. CHP ECL 1.0 28.02.2029 43 Pelma CHP SILO (MDO) SECL 15.0 FY 2028-29 44 Madannagar CHP SILO (MDO) SECL 12.0 FY 2028-29 Gopalji Kaniha Ph-II CHP 45 MCL 20.0 31.03.2029 SILO 46 Durgapur CHP SILO SECL 6.0 FY 2028-29 47 Subhadra CHP SILO (MDO) MCL 25.0 30.10.2028 48 Moonidih XV Seam UG CHP BCCL 2.5 FY 2028-29 NTST Kujama OC CHP SILO 49 BCCL 8.5 FY 2028-29

(MDO) 50 Talabira II&III OCP NLCIL 8.0 March 2026 51 PSCB NLCIL 9.0 Dec-2025 52 North Dhadu NLCIL 4.5 FY 2029-30 53 Machhakata NLCIL 30.0 FY 2029-30 54 New Patrapara South: NLCIL 12.0 FY 2029-30 55 RG OC3 (6 CHP) SCCL 5.0 March-2026 VK CHP (relay of existing 56 SCCL 6.0 2027-28 RCHP.) 57 Naini CHP SCCL 10.0 2028-29 TOTAL

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

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