State-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) reported a 34 per cent year-on-year increase in environmentally friendly coal transportation during the financial year 2024–25, moving 102.5 million tonnes (MT) through 20 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects connected to the Indian Railways network. This marks a significant rise compared to 76.5 MT transported through 17 such projects in FY24.

Up to the end of May in the current financial year, CIL recorded a 36.7 per cent increase in coal dispatch via FMC projects, moving 20.5 MT compared with 15 MT during the same period last year. The coal mining giant plans to commission 19 additional FMC projects with a combined capacity of nearly 150 million tonnes per year during FY26.

FMC is an automated coal evacuation system that facilitates environment-friendly transportation from the pithead to loading points using piped conveyor belts, reducing reliance on truck-based haulage.

“We expect to transport an additional 20 million tonnes through FMC projects in the ongoing financial year,” said a senior CIL official.

The expanded use of FMC systems has resulted in a 5 per cent reduction in underloading charges in FY25 compared to FY24. Furthermore, grade conformity has improved as higher-quality coal is transported more efficiently with reduced contamination through mechanised handling.

Coal India has announced plans to commission a total of 92 FMC projects with a combined capacity of 994 million tonnes per year by the end of FY29. With a target to produce one billion tonnes of coal annually by FY29, the company is scaling infrastructure to ensure nearly all output is transported sustainably. CIL currently accounts for over 80 per cent of India’s coal production.

“FMC projects are a win-win for CIL, its customers and the railways,” the official added.

FMC infrastructure includes mechanised coal handling plants equipped with crushers to size coal and rapid loading systems that ensure precise quantities are loaded into railway wagons, preventing overloading or underloading. This replaces traditional truck transportation and manual loading, reducing dust, noise, and vehicle emissions, easing road congestion, enhancing safety, and improving wagon turnaround times.