The State Government on Saturday decided to prepare a comprehensive regional plan for development of infrastructure and linkage to industrial estates in order to attract investment in steel and allied sectors. The State infrastructure major IDCO has been asked to work out a regional plan, according to official sources.
Sources said that the decision was taken on the advice of Union Steel Secretary G Mohan Kumar, who took a review of the progress of the projects in the steel and mining sector in Odisha along with the Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra at the State Secretariat here. Mohan Kumar was here on a one-day visit to the State. Earlier on the day, he had been to the steel hub Kalinga Nagar of Jajpur to take stock of the functioning of the steel projects and know the problems being faced by the industries in the area.
During the review meeting, Mohan Kumar said that Odisha figured prominently in steel map of India having attracted a large investment.
There is still a large scope for investment in steel and allied sectors, he said, stressing a need for the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to find out areas of collaborations to ensure raw material linkage to the investors in mineral sector.
There is a lot of future prospect for the OMC and the NMDC to work together, he said, adding that the two public sector bodies have been advised to locate the areas of collaboration so that raw material linkages can be assured to the investors.
He also told the State Government for creation of infrastructural facilities in industrial estates to promote investment in steel and allied sectors. Mohan Kumar also said that the Rourkela Steel Plant would be upgraded to 10 million ton capacity during the 12th plan period.
Chief Secretary Mohapatra assured Mohan Kumar that the State Government would provide all necessary support proactively for the capacity addition of the RSP. The OMC and the NMDC should innovate area of collaboration, he said, adding that there was a win-win situation for these corporations if they collaborate to maximise production.