The move comes as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-headed Cabinet Committee on Investment urges for fast-tracking of projects.
The Hindu Business Line cited Coal India chairman and managing director Narsing Rao as saying that the Lines in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha would help Coal India to evacuate coal as well as help several public sector and private companies which have captive mines in these areas.
"The three lines would facilitate around 250-300 million tonnes of coal movement every year," Rao added.
Scheduled to be completed by 2016-end, the three rail corridors include Tori-Shivpuri-Kathotia in North Karanpura, Jharkhand; Bhupdeopur-Korichhaapar to Mand Raigadh mines in Chhattisgarh and Barpali-Jharsuguda in IB Valley, Odisha.
A Cabinet Secretariat official said, "Time-lines for various activities to be undertaken as part of implementation of the projects, such as land acquisition, tree felling, bridge construction, earth work, electrification and laying of lines, have been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Project Monitoring Group (PMG)."
Once completed, the three rail links is expected to help transport 300mt of coal annually.
