Coal India has commissioned India’s first indigenously developed electric rope shovel at the Nigahi Project of its subsidiary Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh. The equipment has been manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers (BEML).

 The 20-cubic-metre shovel, featuring a high-tensile boom and bucket design, fully air-conditioned ergonomic cabin, and real-time monitoring and diagnostic systems, has an annual production capacity of 4.45 million cubic metres. It is also equipped with integrated safety and fault protection systems.

 The commissioning ceremony was attended by Coal India Chairman P.M. Prasad, Director (HR) Dr. Vinay Ranjan, Director (Technical) Achyut Ghatak, BEML CMD Shantanu Roy, NCL CMD B. Sairam, and senior executives from Coal India, NCL, and BEML.

 In his virtual address, Chairman Prasad described the shovel’s induction into Coal India’s HEMM fleet as a major step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and expressed confidence in its optimal utilisation.