Coal India subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal, is accelerating efforts to enhance safe and sustainable coal evacuation from its mines through First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects.
In a significant milestone, SECL’s Dipka Megaproject successfully commenced operations by loading the first coal rake from its newly built Rapid Loading System and Silos 3 & 4 on 21st February 2025, marking a major step in boosting eco-friendly and efficient coal transportation.
The newly commissioned Dipka CHP-Silo FMC project has an annual coal evacuation capacity of 25 million tons, significantly improving the dispatch efficiency of the megaproject.
Before the commissioning of the new silo, Dipka relied on a Merry-Go-Round (MGR) dispatch system with a capacity of 15 MTPA.
Aerial view of Silo 3 of Dipka CHP-Silo FMC project
With the commissioning of Silo 3 & 4, Dipka’s total coal dispatch capacity has now surged to 40 million tons per annum, effectively aligning transportation infrastructure with production levels.
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal, SECL has prioritised the development of FMC infra under the PM Gatishakti Plan. SECL has undertaken 17 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects with a cumulative capacity of 233 MTPA.
Out of these, 9 projects with a total capacity of 151 MTPA have already been commissioned demonstrating the company’s commitment to modernizing coal transportation. Rest 8 FMC projects of 82 MTPA capacity are under various phases of development with a target to commission them in the next 2-3 years.
FMC is widely recognized as an efficient and eco-friendly coal transportation mode. The implementation of FMC infrastructure at Dipka brings multiple benefits:
- Improved efficiency and accurate loading, minimizing both underloading and overloading of coal in rakes.
- Faster loading times leading to shorter turnaround time and improving rake availability.
- Enhanced coal quality, minimizing contamination and losses.
- Reduced dependence on road transport, leading to savings on diesel expenses and a cleaner environment.
The commissioning of these new silos represents a win-win situation for SECL, Indian Railways, and coal consumers by streamlining logistics, optimizing coal movement, and reducing environmental impact.
