PM Modi inaugurates NMDC’s plant, new rail lines in Chattisgarh’s Baxar

Jagdalpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the greenfield steel plant of NMDC Limited situated in Nagarnar to the nation on Tuesday. "Built at a cost of more than Rs 23,800 crore, the steel plant is a greenfield project that will produce high-quality steel. NMDC Steel Ltd’s Steel Plant at Nagarnar will provide employment opportunities to thousands of people in the plant as well as in ancillary and downstream industries. It will put Bastar on the steel map of the world and provide a boost to the socioeconomic development of the region," said an official statement.

Along with inaugurating NMDC's Nagarnar Steel plant, the PM also laid foundation stones for multiple railway and road sector projects worth Rs 3,200 crore in poll-bound Chhattisgarh. He flagged off the Taroki – Raipur DEMU Train Service.

Steel produced in NMDC Nagarnar plant will strengthen armed forces: PM

Addressing the public, PM Modi said, “The steel produced in Bastar will strengthen the armed forces along with boosting defence exports." He added that the plant will provide employment opportunities to approximately 50,000 people. The steel plant is a greenfield project that will produce high-quality steel. Highlighting the importance of steel in the projects of rail, road, airport, power projects, transportation, homes for the poor, and educational and healthcare institutions, the Prime Minister said that the government has taken numerous steps to make the nation self-reliant in steel production in the last nine years.

“Chhattisgarh is reaping the benefits of being a large steel-producing state,” said Modi. He said that the steel produced in this plant will give new energy to the automobile, engineering and defence manufacturing sectors of the nation. He stated that the steel plant will provide employment opportunities to approximately 50,000 youth from Bastar and nearby regions. “The new steel plant will give new momentum to the prioritisation of development of aspirational districts like Bastar by the Central government,” he added.

Incidentally, the Congress has called for a 'bandh' (shutdown) in the region during the PM's visit alleging that the Modi government wants to privatise the steel plant, which is located in Nagarnar village, 22 kilometres from Jagdalpur in Bastar district, the release added.

NMDC Steel Limited's Steel Plant at Nagarnar will produce high quality steel and provide employment opportunities to thousands of people, in the plant as well as in ancillary and downstream industries," it added.

PM inaugurates new rail line between Antagarh and Tadoki

Moreover, the PM also dedicated to the nation a new rail line between Antagarh and Tadoki and a rail line doubling project between Jagdalpur and Dantewada.

He also laid the foundation stone of Boridand-Surajpur rail line doubling project and redevelopment of Jagdalpur station under Amrit Bharat station Scheme, the release said.

The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation a road upgradation project from Kunkuri (Jashpur district) to Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand border section of National Highway-43, the release added.

The PM subsequently addressed the 'Parivartan Mahasankalp rally' of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the same venue from a different stage.

It is PM Modi's fourth visit in the last two-and-half months to the Congress-ruled state, where Assembly elections are due by this year-end.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)