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

The event fostered cross-sectoral dialogue, with actionable strategies expected to emerge, positioning fly ash as a strategic resource in India's low-carbon infrastructure growth.

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