Project push: Railways to complete three key coal links by 2016.

After 15 years, the Ministry of Railways has committed to complete three crucial rail link projects by 2016. The rail connectivity would help evacuate and deliver to customers nearly 300 million tonne of coal annually from mines in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

The sudden promptness from the Railways to complete the lines, pending since 1999, is seen as the impact of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-headed Cabinet Committee on Investment pushing for fast-tracking of projects.

S Narsing Rao, Chairman and Managing Director of Coal India, said: 'These lines would not only help Coal India to evacuate coal, but it would also help several public sector and private companies which have captive mines in these areas.

The three lines would facilitate around 250-300 million tonnes of coal movement every year.'

The three rail corridors, which include Tori-Shivpuri-Kathotia in North Karanpura, Jharkhand; Bhupdeopur-Korichhaapar to Mand Raigadh mines in Chhattisgarh and Barpali-Jharsuguda in IB Valley, Odisha, are to be completed by 2016-end.

The lines in Odisha and Jharkhand are fully funded by Coal India, while the one in Chhattisgarh would be set up through a joint venture. Miners other than Coal India would also be allowed to use these lines. Those agreements would be negotiated separately, Rao told Business Line.

HBL