The Union Government has decided to shift the Biju Patnaik National Steel Institute (BPNSI) from Puri to Kalinganagar in Jajpur district, where a steel hub is in the making.

With Union Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan harping on establishment of India’s first steel hub in Kalinganagar, shifting of the BPNSI, which is run by the Ministry of Steel, would be useful for the hub. For this, the Centre has requested the State Government to provide 50 acres of land.

The BPNSI was set up in 2002 for the development of steel sector with an emphasis on the secondary steel sector.

The institute had adopted a three-pronged approach, namely ‘Education and Training, Research and Development and Consultancy, to boost the steel sector.

Affiliated to the AICTE, the institute is offering Advanced Certificate Course on iron and steel manufacturing. The Ministry has also decided to set up set up a steel skill development centre (SSDC) under the administrative control of the BPNSI.

Sources said the Ministry of Steel is in contact with the State Government in this regard. The BPNSI along with its SSDC would be able to generate massive pool of skilled workforce of young boys and girls for the steel sector.

International organisations imparting training in steel sector would be roped in for SSDC to provide advanced training to youths, who would be required for steel industries to be established in the steel hub at Kalinganagar.

With a target to produce 300 million tonne of steel per annum (MTPA), the Ministry is taking all sorts of steps to improve the capacity and boost the downstream industries.

Under this backdrop, shifting of the BPSNI and setting up of SSDC woud go a long way in serving the steel sector, said officials.