The head of Indian mining giant Adani says the company is ready to go this year with its controversial mega coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin.

Adani Mining chief executive Jeyakumar Janakaraj told a business lunch in Brisbane that the company expected to start engineering work on the rail line between the Carmichael mine and the Abbott Point coal terminal by June, and start major construction by September.

Jeyakumar Janakaraj attended the business lunch in Brisbane. Credit:Ben Rushton

The $21 billion project has been the focus on strong opposition from environmental groups, but Mr Janakaraj said it was vital in reducing India's carbon footprint, with the higher-quality Australian coal producing less pollution than that mined in India.

"The 20,000 megawatts of thermal energy (in India) needs a reliable source of good quality coal to keep the net impact to climate change neutral or lower," Mr Janakaraj said.