Power plants in eastern India received boost after South Eastern Railway (SER) started loading its first coal rake in Sardega, Odisha for transportation to the Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant in East Midnapore. Loading has been completed and the rake is headed to the power plant with 3,953 tonnes of coal from the Basundhara Project of Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd (MCL). MCL signed a memorandum of understanding with SER to extend tracks 51 km beyond Jharsuguda to Sardega. The project worth Rs 1,007 crore was completed in December 2017 and the entire cost was borne by MCL. The large yard at Jharsuguda will be put to good use by SER. Not only will this space help in transporting coal to eastern power plants but also western and south.