Coal India Ltd spent ₹7,996 crore on capital expenditure during the first half of 2026-27, exceeding its April-September target by 9 per cent as the state-owned miner accelerated investment in mine infrastructure, land acquisition, heavy machinery and diversification projects.
The company said its first-half capex rose 27 per cent from ₹6,283 crore during the corresponding period last year. The expenditure exceeded the planned outlay of ₹7,286 crore and represented more than 48 per cent of Coal India’s annual capex target of ₹16,500 crore.
Mine infrastructure development accounted for the largest share of spending during the period, at ₹2,152 crore. Coal India said this investment covered railway sidings and corridors, coal handling plants, silos and weighbridges. These assets are intended to strengthen the systems used to move, handle and measure coal from mining operations.
Land acquisition was the second-largest component, accounting for ₹2,033 crore. The company also spent more than ₹1,000 crore on mine development to support the expansion and operational readiness of its mining projects. Together, the spending indicates that a substantial part of the first-half outlay was directed towards enabling land and infrastructure for ongoing operations and future production capacity.
Capital expenditure on plant and machinery stood at ₹1,394 crore. This included heavy earth-moving machinery, washeries and other equipment. Of the total, ₹452 crore was used to procure heavy earth-moving machinery, which Coal India said would strengthen mining operations and improve operational efficiency.
The company also spent more than ₹739 crore on diversification projects during the first half. These included solar energy, critical minerals, coal gasification and thermal power generation. The spending places these activities alongside the miner’s traditional investments in extraction, processing and transport-related infrastructure.
Coal India said mine infrastructure, plant and machinery, land acquisition and diversification together accounted for more than 79 per cent of its total capex between April and September. The composition of the expenditure shows that the company’s annual investment programme is being deployed across the full operating chain, from land and mine development to evacuation infrastructure, equipment and new energy-related businesses.
The investment in railway sidings and corridors, coal handling plants, silos and weighbridges is particularly linked to coal evacuation and handling capacity. By identifying these areas as part of its largest capex segment, Coal India has indicated that transport connections and downstream handling remain central to its operational priorities.
The company said the investments were expected to strengthen its operational capabilities and support production and supply targets for the ongoing financial year. Coal India’s annual capex plan remains ₹16,500 crore, leaving more than half of the planned outlay to be spent in the second half of 2026-27.
