Idco to conduct bankability study for coal corridor soon

Initially, the coal corridor was to be developed as a 50:50 joint venture between Idco and state controlled miner Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC)

Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) would take up a financial bankability study for the Rs 6,000-crore Angul-Chhendipada coal corridor soon.

Of the Rs 1 crore required for carrying out the study, the state government has already sanctioned Rs 50 lakh.

Initially, the coal corridor was scheduled to be developed as a 50:50 joint venture between Idco and state-controlled Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).

 However, after OMC expressed hesitation in implementing the project, Idco decided to develop the corridor on its own.

The corridor would support 10 blocks operating in the Talcher coalfields, under Mahanadi Coalfields.

Developing the 143-km corridor is estimated to cost Rs 5,000 crore. The corridor, expected to handle traffic of about 100 mt a year, would be connected to rail heads at three locations —Jharpada, Angul and Budhapanka.

It would have multiple entry and exit points and no surface crossing. To avoid cross-movement at junctions, flyovers have been proposed.

To avoid interference or wastage in coal-bearing areas, multi-point centralised loading stations have been proposed, rather than individual bulb connections.

The road and water-pipe alignment for the corridor would be parallel to the rail alignment. More than 50 industries across sectors such as steel, aluminium and power are expected to benefit from the proposed corridor.

A number of power and steel companies that had been allotted coal blocks in the area are facing resistance, with regard to land acquisition for private railway sidings. It is expected the construction of a common corridor would overcome the problem.

A similar corridor is also being considered for the Ib valley.