Railways, NTPC Lead Rs 340 Billion Fly Ash Push
28 Aug 2025 CW Team
The Ministry of Railways and NTPC jointly hosted the National Conference on Fly Ash Utilisation and Transportation on 25 August 2025 at the Power Management Institute, Noida, uniting policymakers, generators, users, and transporters to chart India’s roadmap for sustainable fly ash management.
In FY 2024–25, India generated 340.11 million tonnes of fly ash, with 332.63 million tonnes successfully utilised — a notable 97.8 per cent utilisation rate. The Indian Railways has been instrumental in this success, offering a green, economical transport mode with attractive freight concessions, and stands poised to expand its role further.
Breakdown of usage in 2024–25 (NTPC data):
- 32 per cent for road and flyover construction
- 27 per cent in cement manufacturing
- 14 per cent for bricks and tiles
- 11 per cent for backfilling
- 10 per cent for mine filling
- 1–2 per cent in agriculture and RMC
The conference gained momentum amid government efforts to mandate fly ash usage in cement, roadworks, mine reclamation, and building materials, advancing India’s circular economy and climate goals.
Fly ash, a by-product of thermal power, poses a dual challenge—requiring safe disposal yet holding value as an infrastructure input. Recognising this, the Railways and NTPC reaffirmed their collaborative commitment to scale up transport and reuse systems that balance environmental and economic imperatives.
Senior dignitaries attending included:
- Shri Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, CEA
- Shri Hitendra Malhotra, Member (Operations & BD), Railways
- Shri Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC
- Shri Piyush Singh, Additional Secretary, Power Ministry
- Event oversight by Dr Manoj Singh, Additional Member (Marketing & BD), Railways