CCEA approved 3 new rail link projects

Part of coal, rail ministries ambitious Mand-Raigarh coal fields link

In a bid to ramp up coal availability, the union cabinet approved of a proposal to lay new railway lines between Gevra Road and Pendra Road in Chhattisgarh and Raigad (Mand Coliery) to Bhupdeopur also in Chhattisgarh  and doubling of Palanpur and Samakhiali (247.73 km)on Wednesday.

Officials said the 122-kilometer Rail Link between Gevra Road and Pendra Road and the 63- kilometers link from Raigad to Bhupdeopur  is part of an ambitious project of the Coal and Rail ministries to link Mand-Raigarh coal fields of the South Eastern Coalfields (SECL).

The anticipated project cost for  all the projects  is  Rs 2483.99 crore. The rate of return  for all the projects range between 17 to 27%.

Meanwhile, officials said the government is also planning to set up two other rail links for to connect coalfields-- one connecting the North Karanpura coalfield in Jharkhand and the other one connecting the IB valley Coal Field in Orissa.

The overall move is part of a bigger plan being implemented under the PMO’s strict watch to set up three rail lines, running 300 Km across three naxal-affected but coal rich states of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand. The PMO has asked the coal, environment and rail ministries to complete the project in three years to free up 300 MT coal supply.

The three projects have been under discussions since the past 15 years. These have been held up due to lack of green clearances and land acquisition issues in the respective states.