Coal India plans capex of nearly Rs 40,000cr over 5 yrs

He did not give details of the expenditure, but the company has earlier said its capital expenditure plan includes development of more than 100 coal-mine projects, setting up coal washeries and acquisition of coal blocks overseas.

The heads of nine state-run companies, which are sitting on a cash pile of Rs 180,000 crore, met Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday, who is likely to have pressed the companies to increase investment in proposed infrastructure projects to bolster economic growth that slipped to a near three-year low of 5.5% in the June quarter.

Separately, the chairman of state-run power utility NTPC Ltd said the company plans to spend Rs 200,000 crore over five years.