New Delhi: A high-profile meeting in New Delhi, involving Union Ministers H.D. Kumaraswamy, Jual Oram, and Dharmendra Pradhan, alongside Odisha, SAIL, and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) officials, has initiated action to double RSP’s capacity and boost infrastructure for India’s steel ambitions.
Doubling Production with Railway Upgrades
The meeting confirmed plans to expand RSP’s output from 4.5 MTPA to 9.3 MTPA annually. Central to this is the doubling of the railway line connecting RSP, essential for transporting the increased steel volume efficiently.
Economic Uplift via Employment and Connectivity
Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram urged the government to prioritize local youth employment, especially those displaced. He also advocated for allocating land to upgrade Rourkela Airport, aligning improved connectivity with regional industrial growth.
Purvodaya Vision Underpins Strategy
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tied the expansion to Prime Minister Modi’s Purvodaya vision, which aims to stimulate eastern India’s industrial and economic development. He emphasised the project’s potential to strengthen India’s global steel position, reduce imports, and generate large-scale employment.
High‑Level Committee to Smooth Progress
Participants agreed to form a high‑level committee—comprising members from the Ministry of Steel, Odisha government, and SAIL—to coordinate the expansion, resolve land issues, and monitor execution.
About RSP & SAIL:
The Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), established in 1959 and operated by SAIL, is India’s first public-sector integrated steel plant. It currently produces 4.5 MTPA hot metal and 4.2 MTPA crude steel. RSP’s proposed expansion to 9.3 MTPA by 2030 would align with SAIL’s broader ₹30,000 cr
