Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: In a significant development for Odisha’s industrial and economic growth, a high-level meeting was convened to deliberate on the ambitious expansion of the Rourkela Steel Plant. The session witnessed the presence of Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Senior officials from the Odisha Government, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) were also in attendance.
A major focus of the discussion was the proposed doubling of the plant’s production capacity—from the current 4.5 million metric tonnes to 9.3 million metric tonnes per annum. To support this growth, the meeting stressed the need for a parallel expansion in infrastructure, particularly the doubling of key railway lines to facilitate efficient transportation of raw materials and finished steel products.
The meeting also explored opportunities for employment generation and the broader industrial boost that would accompany such a scale-up in capacity. Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram raised critical issues concerning the local population, particularly the concerns of displaced families and the need for assured employment for affected youth. He also urged the Steel Ministry and SAIL to expedite plans for providing additional land to facilitate the expansion of the Rourkela Airport, which would improve regional connectivity and logistics.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated the importance of the Rourkela Steel Plant as a key driver of Odisha’s industrial economy and a source of livelihoods for thousands of people. He underscored the role of multi-sectoral coordination in ensuring that industrial expansion aligns with local development goals.
A consensus emerged during the discussions to establish a high-level committee comprising senior representatives from the Ministry of Steel, the Government of Odisha, and SAIL. This committee will be tasked with addressing ground-level challenges and suggesting actionable strategies for smooth implementation of the expansion plan while ensuring community welfare.
