Bokaro: Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, laid the foundation stone for two major coal handling plants in Bokaro and Kargali yesterday, marking a significant step in boosting India’s coal transportation efficiency. The Karo and Konar Coal Handling Plants, with annual capacities of 7 million tonnes and 5 million tonnes respectively, are set to enhance coal dispatch operations in Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) areas.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Member of Parliament, Giridih, Chandra Prakash Chaudhary; MLA Bermo, Kumar Jayamangal (Anoop Singh); Chairman of Coal India Limited, PM Prasad; and CMD, CCL, Nilendu Kumar Singh, alongside senior CCL officers, workers’ union representatives, and other stakeholders.
The Karo and Konar Coal Handling Plants are crucial components of the government’s First Mile Rail Connectivity initiative, designed to streamline coal transportation from the mines to thermal power plants and other key consumers across the country. Currently, coal from these mines is transported by road to railway sidings, a process that is both time-consuming and environmentally taxing.
Once operational, these plants will transfer coal directly to nearby railway circuits via conveyor belts, significantly reducing the time and environmental costs associated with road transportation. Dubey emphasized the importance of these projects, saying, “These plants will not only expedite coal dispatch but also reduce pollution and reliance on diesel-powered vehicles.”
The Konar Coal Handling Plant will be equipped with a hopper, crusher, a coal storage bunker with a capacity of 10,000 tonnes, and a 1.6 km conveyor belt. The conveyor will transport coal to a 1,000-tonne Silo bunker for direct loading into railway wagons. This closed-loop system, built at a cost of ₹322 crore, will slash the current rake loading time from 5 hours to just 1 hour, drastically speeding up coal dispatch and improving rake availability.
The Karo Coal Handling Plant, with an annual capacity of 7 million tonnes, will include a hopper, crusher, a coal storage bunker with a capacity of 15,000 tonnes, and a 1 km conveyor belt. Coal will be loaded into a 4,000-tonne silo bunker before being transported to railway wagons. The project, with an investment of ₹410 crore, will similarly reduce rake loading times from 5 hours to 1 hour, improving operational efficiency and dispatch speeds.
The fully mechanized systems in both plants will eliminate road transportation, reducing diesel consumption and cutting down on dust and vehicle-borne pollution in the surrounding areas. Minister Dubey also participated in a tree-planting ceremony as part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, further underscoring the project’s environmental significance.
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