First Mile connectivity

August 17, 2023

To strengthen India’s energy security and realize the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing the reliance on imported coal, the Ministry of Coal is actively working on development of the National Coal Logistic Plan, which includes First Mile Connectivity (FMC) through railway siding near coal mines.
First Mile Connectivity eliminates road transportation of coal in mining areas by using conveyors or roads to the nearest railway siding.
A comprehensive tally of 67 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) Projects with a combined capacity of 885 million metric tons, are being progressively pursued in three phases to achieve a mechanized coal handling capacity of approximately 1 billion metric tons.
Benefits- By transporting coal through a conveyor belt or road to the nearest railway siding, FMC reduces the number of trucks on the road and the associated environmental impacts such as air pollution, traffic congestion, and road damage, leading to a cleaner and healthier environment.