Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries Shri H. D. Kumaraswamy began a two-day visit to SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) on 18 November 2025. He was accompanied by Mrs Anitha Kumaraswamy, SAIL Chairman and Managing Director Shri Amarendu Prakash, and officials from the Ministry of Steel. The delegation was welcomed at Rourkela Airport by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Jual Oram, MLA Shri Durga Charan Tanti, RSP Director In-Charge Shri Alok Verma, CISF and police officials, and senior officers from the Government of Odisha and RSP. The CISF unit at RSP presented a Guard of Honour to the Minister.

Following his arrival, Shri Kumaraswamy, along with Shri Oram, Shri Tanti and other dignitaries, proceeded to the plant. The visit began at the Model Room of the Learning and Development Department, where the Minister was briefed on the plant’s operations.

He then visited Steel Melting Shop-2 to inaugurate the state-of-the-art Caster-4. Observing the slab-casting process, he congratulated the RSP team on the successful commissioning of the project. “The Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is committed to extending all necessary support for the growth and development of Rourkela Steel Plant,” he said. Shri Oram commended the workforce and reiterated his support for the plant’s continued progress, recalling his long association with RSP. Shri Amarendu Prakash also praised the dedication and performance of the RSP collective.

The Ministers later visited the project sites of the Pellet Plant and Coke Oven Battery-7, concluding their tour at Hot Strip Mill-2. At each location, they were briefed on the unit’s operations, current status and future development plans.

Senior executives including Mr Tarun Misra, ED (HR); Mr B. K. Giri, ED (Mines Development–CMLO); Mr Biswaranjan Palai, ED (Works); Mr Anil Kumar, ED (MM); Mr M. P. Singh, ED (Mines–CMLO); and Mr Sudip Pal Chowdhury, ED (Projects), were present during the visit.