Rourkela Steel Plant expansion: Centre to form high-level panel to resolve hurdles

In a major development concerning Odisha’s industrial growth, the Union Government has decided to constitute a high-level committee aimed at addressing the challenges impeding the expansion of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).

The decision was taken following a proposal by Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan, which received approval from Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy. The two ministers, along with Sundargarh MP and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, held a meeting in New Delhi today to deliberate on the matter.

Pradhan expressed his gratitude to Kumaraswamy via a post on social media platform X, stating, “Grateful to the Union Steel Minister for accepting my suggestion to set up a high-powered committee to resolve the issues and eliminate bottlenecks obstructing the expansion of RSP.”

Highlighting the strategic significance of the RSP expansion, Pradhan said the move is vital not just for boosting steel production but also for advancing the industrial and economic landscape of Odisha and the broader eastern region.

He further added that the expansion would support India’s steel output, strengthen its global standing, reduce dependency on imports, meet the demands of key industries, and drive employment generation in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Purvodaya’ vision.

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has proposed to double the plant's current capacity—from 4.5 million tonnes to 9 million tonnes—marking a major leap forward for one of India’s oldest integrated steel plants.