Bhubaneswar: The Union Government will form a high-level committee to resolve issues hindering the proposed expansion of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) in Odisha.

Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy has agreed to a suggestion in this regard by Sambalpur MP and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Kumaraswamy, Pradhan and Sundargarh MP and Union Tribal Affair Minister Jual Oram attended a meeting to resolve issues pertaining to the expansion of RSP in New Delhi today.

“Thankful to the Union Steel Minister for agreeing to my suggestion to form a high-powered committee for addressing hurdles hindering the expansion, removing bottlenecks and resolving all unresolved issues with regard to the expansion of RSP,” said Pradhan in a Twitter (X) post today.

According to Pradhan, expansion of RSP is strategically important for India’s steel sector as well as for industrial and socio-economic development of Odisha and eastern region.

“The expansion will boost our steel production capacity, strengthen India’s position in the global steel market, reduce imports, cater to the needs of key industrial sectors, catalyse Odisha’s economy, drive growth and create large-scale jobs in steel and allied sectors in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Purvodaya,” added Pradhan.

It is worth mentioning here that the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has planned to enhance the capacity of RSP to 9 million tonnes from the existing 4.5 million tonnes.