Centre, Andhra Government Collaborating on Action Plan to Revitalize Vizag Steel Plant

The Union and Andhra Pradesh governments are also preparing a holistic action plan to strengthen the Vizag Steel Plant (VSP), an industrial asset of the state.

Union Ministry of Steel high-level delegation with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at his residence in Undavalli, Guntur district on Monday to discuss the steel plant’s future. The meeting primarily discussed the recent financial package cleared by the NDA government for VSP and measures to enhance operations.

B. Srinivasa Varma, Union Minister of State for Steel appreciated the state’s initiative to deploy a Special Protection Force (SPF) and strengthen the security of the plant. This is being done as the Dahlia plant is still in recovery.

Naidu said the plant, officially named Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. (RINL), had been a big economic and emotional move for people in Andhra Pradesh. According to him, the facility is an important part of the local economy and the centre and the state will now work together to make it functional again.

Other key discussion points focused on the re-opening of the third blast furnace, which is integral to scaling up production along with the two existing furnaces. The chief minister also stressed the need to review the progress regularly to ensure recovery and long-term sustainability of the plant.

Reiterating his continued support for the steel plant from the state government, Naidu emphasized the need for joint efforts to reinstate the plant back to full capacity.