
New Delhi: A high-level meeting was convened in New Delhi to facilitate the expansion of Steel Authority of India Limited’s (SAIL) Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), with Union Ministers HD Kumaraswamy (Heavy Industries and Steel), Jual Oram (Tribal Affairs), and Dharmendra Pradhan (Education) in attendance. The meeting brought together senior officials from the Odisha Government, SAIL, and the RSP.
The key agenda of the meeting was to discuss infrastructure enhancements, particularly the doubling of the railway line to support the proposed increase in RSP’s production capacity—from the current 4.5 million metric tonnes to 9.3 million metric tonnes. The expansion is expected to significantly boost industrial output and create substantial employment opportunities in the region.
Highlighting local concerns, Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Jual Oram urged the Ministry of Steel to prioritise employment for youth displaced by the plant’s operations. He also called for SAIL’s active support in providing additional land for the proposed expansion of the Rourkela Airport to improve regional connectivity.
To ensure coordinated and effective resolution of issues at the ground level, the meeting concluded with a decision to constitute a high-level committee. This committee will include senior officials from the Ministry of Steel, the Odisha Government, and SAIL, and will be tasked with recommending actionable solutions to facilitate smooth implementation of the expansion plan.
The collaborative approach signals a significant step forward in strengthening the industrial landscape of Odisha while addressing socio-economic concerns of local communities.
(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.)