Government Focusing on Two Major Rail Projects to Address Coal Supply

New Delhi: In order to improve coal supply, the government on Friday said it is focusing on 2-3 major rail projects that will resolve the connectivity problems.

Besides, the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) so far has listed 467 projects for clearance on its portal from sectors like power, coal, steel and road which have investments to the tune of about Rs 23 lakh crore, Additional Secretary and Chairman of PMG Anil Swarup said at a Ficci event in Delhi.

The PMG, which was set up under the Cabinet Secretariat last year, is mandated to facilitate in clearance and track large projects with investment of over Rs 1,000 crore.

Mr Swarup said the government is focusing on large rail projects which can help solve connectivity problems related to the supply of coal.

"But we are focusing on 2-3 major projects that are rail projects, which are critical in terms of coal supply. So they are critical in the sense that I am given to understand that once these projects get cleared, they will help in solving connectivity problems," Mr Swarup said.

For two projects environmental and forest clearance has been given, he added.

"Out of these two, I think work has started on one project. These projects are in Odhisha and Chattisgarh. These are connectivity projects...," he added.

Mr Swarup said that till this morning, 467 projects are on the portal entailing an investment of about Rs 23 lakh crore.

"Out of these, in 57 we came to the conclusion that we can't take any action," he said, citing the example of coal blocks where Supreme Court has given verdict for cancellation.

"Besides, 180 projects have been facilitated for clearance by PMG and they entail an investment of about Rs 6.5 lakh crore. We still have about 220 projects with an investment of about Rs 11 lakh crore," he added.  

Mr Swarup said these projects are related to sectors such as power, coal, steel, aluminium, road and transmission.