Road to Glory- Nigahi Haul Road

Few months ago, I was transferred from Personnel Department to CC & PR Department ( Corporate Communications and Public Relations Department (commonly known as PR Department) of my organisation. Added with the transfer came location variant- from project posting to Headquarters. The thing I love most about PR Department- it gives ample opportunity to use my favorite skill- writing.

One fine day my Boss called me and asked to do a feature story on haul road of Nigahi mines. At that moment, I was both shocked and happy. Happy for all the writing I would get to do. Shocked for the confidence he had on me. It was only a month I joined in PR Department and here is the Chief selecting me for such challenging assignment.

You know those times- when someone invests on you. That was one such moment. My Boss invested trust, invested belief. I was overwhelmed. And jittery.

The day came. When I was ‘at site’. Feeling like an in-house journalist. All I had was seeing, feeling, conversing, jotting and imagining.

Did it all.

Came back. Relived ‘the site’. Started writing. Writing. Writing. Writing profusely to my soul’s content. And here it goes-

Road to glory- Nigahi Haul Road

Air thick with smell of potentiality, sight of mammoth machines, sounds of capacities; and amidst all this– a striking stretch of broadways topped with glistening tar. Viewed from viewpoint, 15-million-tonne Nigahi opencast project of NCL exudes a compelling charm. Commands admiration.

Glistening tar—The HAUL ROAD

An old adage goes ‘There is no traffic jam on the extra mile’. Nigahi went an extra mile with its haul road by turning it into ‘Four Lane Haul Road’. And today, road network inside Nigahi mine is one amongst forerunners in haul road infrastructure in India!

The network has two pair of roads for Heavy Earth Moving Machines (HEMM’s) moving towards coalface and away from coalface (that is towards OB dump) and one pair of road for other vehicular traffic. The majestic stretch of roads running parallel to each other and the HEMM’s running smoothly over it makes one ponder about the genesis of multiple lane haul road idea.

Four lane haul roads in Nigahi mine is marvel of willpower. Historically, 1000mm-1200mm of average rainfall is accounted for during mine planning. But last year in August-Septemper 2016, rainfall went beyond all calculations and figure touched record high of 2000mm. Roads were affected. Production was stymied. Major repair works was predicted. But what was not predicted was vision of Chief of Nigahi.

Project Officer, Nigahi, Mr.Harish Duhan recalls the moment when the General Manager, Nigahi, Mr. Chanchal Goswami asked his team, “Can we build haul roads similar to expressways?”

Faces stunned. Logic resigned. But as they say, there is fine line of difference between leadership and strategic leadership. Convictions were held high. Goal was set.

With action oriented plan, things started moving to measured tones of data and metrics. Teams were meeting multiple times in a day. A mix of constants and variables were factored in–space, elevation, incline, terrain, load, rolling resistance are just to name a few; because counting all the factors would have one run out of breath. Justified. After all, it was haul road. In mines, machines are not just another lump of metal. In mines, machines move earth. Supporting speed and weight of earth movers is humongous task for any structure.

Going ahead on construction, a low lead dumping space was zeroed in—such space is characterized by proximity to excavation point where dumpers need to travel lesser distances for offloading. Management decided to temporarily sacrifice 1 km by 80 metre of the said space. In mining, any cutback in dumping space has direct bearing on production. But Nigahi management was already through with calculations. They knew choosing long term perspective over instant gratification would be a win-win situation as the space could easily be re-used later. A fine balance was struck between short term priorities and long term vision.

Plan was finally out—the resources, the people; everything was in-house. White course grained sandstone naturally occurring in overburden(OB) concentrate was identified for working with layers commonly called ‘courses’ in haul road terminology. An integrated approach for material and design was put in place. As of manpower, multiple teams consisting of handpicked workers, operators and officers were constituted. The teams took turns and worked day and night to complete the project.

In November end, the roads were commissioned. The marvel of design, the marvel of willpower was there for everyone to see– state of the art infrastructure; four colossal lanes ready to carry mighty HEMM’s. Operators were elated. Teams were satisfied. The sprawling mine had this strange air which asserted- nothing is impossible. “Nigahi Haul Road is quintessential example of safe and cost effective construction process which boasts of retro reflective tapes as the only external cost incurred on the project”, remarks Mr.Duhan.

The road has been in operation for more than six months. And ever since it became operational, accrued benefits of road seem to be piling up day by day—queueing free movement of dumpers (haul trucks), increased haulage per tonne, reduced operating costs of machines, increased machine productivity capacities are to name a few. A significant impact of the road is augmented safety and enhanced operator’s comfort. “With heightened feel of safety, I now have to expend lesser physical and mental energies while steering the dumper”, says Mr. Dayaram Singh, Senior Dumper Operator, Nigahi.

Another milestone attributed to newly built haul road was availability of 2 million tonne of exposed coal as on 31st March 2017. Reason- Construction of haul road allowed regression of ramp foot to an extent where more coal was accessible and mineable. This was first time in history of mine when significant quantity of exposed coal was available in year ending. “The road has been lauded by many dignitaries and regulatory bodies like Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS)”, shares Colliery Manager, Mr.G.Senapati excitedly.

Team Nigahi deserves all the recognition for its love for merit. Merit is difficult to preserve. Mediocrity would have been much easier–get roads repaired and start operations. But they chose to rise above mediocrity, went beyond predictable and wrote a new definition of possibilities. True, being a strategic leader is about asking the right questions, “Can we build haul roads similar to expressways?”

With dawning of dusk, LED dotting the road light up.. And the Haul Road shines with glory unparalleled.