KNR Constructions' joint venture KNR-SIML has received a Letter of Acceptance from South Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, for a coal mining contract valued at Rs 33,611.1 million (Rs 33,611.1 million). The consortium is led by KNR Constructions with a 51 per cent stake, while Sushee Infra & Mining Limited holds 49 per cent. The project is located at the Kusmunda Open Cast Project in Chhattisgarh and will run for 2,920 days, or approximately eight years. The award constitutes a major long-term mining assignment for the partners.

The scope of work covers extensive overburden removal, mechanical coal extraction and associated logistics operations. The overburden component involves excavation, transportation and disposal of about 258.15 million cubic metres, with a mandated minimum daily handling capacity of 88,410 cubic metres. This includes removal of soft soil and silt layers as well as excavation of hard rock and inter-burden formations using heavy earthmoving machinery and drilling equipment. The contract will be executed on an item-rate basis.

A key element of the plan is advanced mechanical coal cutting utilising surface miners fitted with dust suppression systems, thereby removing the need for conventional drilling and blasting. The joint venture is responsible for extracting 142.89 million tonnes (mn t) of coal, with a minimum daily production target of 48,934 tonnes. Mechanical loading and transportation form a core part of the operational responsibilities. Equipment deployment will include payloaders and a fleet of tippers.

Coal handling will include movement to stockyards, railway sidings, including Gevra and NK-2, and integration with in?pit conveyor systems to support continuous supply chains. The assignment combines large-scale excavation, mechanised coal production and integrated logistics across the Kusmunda mining complex and is expected to define the consortium's mining profile for the duration. Operational planning will focus on meeting mandated daily handling and production minima while maintaining environmental controls. The contract aligns with SECL's long-term production requirements.