Maharashtra’s reported plan to use fly ash in three proposed expressways and a mineral transportation corridor has a significant data discrepancy that must be resolved before the scale of the agreement can be established. Mid-Day reports that Mahagenco and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to use fly ash from thermal power plants, but the article gives conflicting figures for the total quantity.
The headline and project-wise breakdown in the report state that the estimated requirement is 6.17 crore metric tonnes. However, the body also describes the quantity as 617 crore metric tonnes. The project-wise figures listed in the same report are 2.79 crore metric tonnes for the Nagpur–Chandrapur Expressway, 2.09 crore metric tonnes for the Nagpur–Gondia Expressway, 1.14 crore metric tonnes for the Bhandara–Gadchiroli Expressway and 0.15 crore metric tonnes for the Navegaon More–Surjagad mineral transportation corridor. These figures add up to 6.17 crore metric tonnes, not 617 crore metric tonnes.
According to the report, the proposed utilisation period is from January 2027 to December 2028. Fly ash for projects in the Nagpur region is expected to be supplied by the Koradi or Khaparkheda thermal power plants, while projects in the Chandrapur region are expected to receive supplies from the Chandrapur plant.
The agreement was signed by Mahagenco Chairman and Managing Director Radhakrishnan B and MSRDC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Anilkumar B Gaikwad in the presence of Maharashtra Minister of State for Energy Meghna Sakore-Bordikar. Officials from Mahagenco and MSRDC were also present, including Mahagenco Director Projects Abhay Harane, Executive Director Environment Nitin Wagh and MSRDC Chief General Manager Environment Narendra Toke, the report said.
The reported arrangement is intended to connect two infrastructure systems that are usually managed separately: thermal power generation and road construction. Fly ash is a by-product of coal-fired power generation, while expressway and corridor projects require large volumes of material for construction and embankment work. The proposed supply mechanism would therefore link ash generated at power plants with the material requirements of road and transport projects.
The report says that separate tripartite agreements will be signed between the relevant thermal power plants, MSRDC and authorised contractors or other concerned agencies. Those agreements are expected to establish project-wise quantities, supply schedules, transportation arrangements and the terms of financial assistance.
Financial assistance claims, according to the report, would be processed only after the fly ash is measured, its utilisation is certified and the required documents are verified. This indicates that the reported MoU sets out an institutional framework, while project-level agreements would determine how much material is actually supplied and used.
The quantities may change depending on technical requirements, site conditions and the availability of fly ash. That qualification is important because the final quantity used on each project may not match the initial estimate. It also means that the reported total should not be treated as a confirmed material movement figure until the project-level arrangements and measurements are completed.
The initiative is described as supporting 100 per cent fly ash utilisation in line with the Central Government’s fly ash notification dated December 31, 2021, and Maharashtra’s fly ash utilisation policy dated September 19, 2025. The report says the arrangement could help reduce environmental and operational risks associated with long-term storage of accumulated fly ash at thermal power plants.
The MoU is reported to remain valid until March 31, 2032, or until the relevant projects are completed, whichever occurs earlier. Its term may be extended with the approval of the competent authorities of both organisations.
The immediate issue for publication and implementation is the conflicting quantity in the supplied report. The project-wise figures support a total of 6.17 crore metric tonnes, while the separate reference to 617 crore metric tonnes is materially higher. The signed MoU, official project documents or a clarification from Mahagenco or MSRDC would be required to establish the correct figure before the scale of Maharashtra’s fly ash utilisation plan is presented as confirmed.
