New Delhi: The coal ministry will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the railway ministry and the Odisha government on Monday for implementation of common rail corridor projects for coal evacuation.
Union Coal Secretary Anil Swarup had said during his February visit to the state that two special purpose vehicles will be jointly formed by Odisha government, railways, and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for evacuation of coal from Talcher and Ib Valley areas.
In the proposed special purpose vehicles, MCL will have 64 percent stake, while the Indian Railways and Odisha government will have a share of 26 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
"MoU to be signed on April 20 between the coal and railway ministries and Odisha government to implement railway projects for coal evacuation," Swarup tweeted on Saturday.
The railway ministry had recently reviewed the progress of three rail corridor projects in the state, including the Jharsuguda-Barpali-Sardega corridor in Ib Valley. As per the original plan, Ib Valley project was scheduled to be completed in 2009.
The Rs.470 crore Jharsuguda-Barpali railway link project was announced in January 2006 by state-run Coal India to link its Ib Valley coalfields. The project is likely to be completed by 2017.