OdishaPlus Bureau
With Odisha becoming the highest producer of steel and stainless steel in the country, the State Government is set to take up the development of the first-of-its-kind downstream cluster in Kalinga Nagar. Kalinga Nagar will come up as a major industrial park with a focus on steelmaking and the Ministry of Steel is setting up the first Integrated steel hub there. Odisha has been labeled as the highest producer of Steel and Stainless Steel in 2019.The State Government is planning to create world-class industrial infrastructure as it is competing for luring investments. While Kalinga Nagar will have the integrated hub, a greenfield steel plant is coming up in Keonjhar.
For this logistic support with rail, road connectivity is needed to carry raw materials from mines and evacuate products from the plants. Principal Secretary Industries and MSME Hemant Sharma discussed the issues with senior officials as the State Government has been working on a massive downstream cluster plan in the Kalinga Nagar area, said a senior official in the Department of Industries.
The way forward for industrial growth 2.0 aims at the development of an industrial ecosystem and Kalinga Nagar has the natural advantage of major iron ore mines in nearby areas, and smooth movement of metals and iron ore with rail and road linkage from Paradeep Port.
Also, steel manufacturing has an advantage in Kalinga Nagar with increased road and rail connectivity between the hinterland and major ports of Paradip and Dhamra, he said. Massive road, rail and waterway connectivity will be developed with the establishment of East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), said sources in the Department.
ECEC will be the lifeline for the industrial park and steel hub, which has been identified as the major infrastructure network of the state.
The Ministry of Steel is continuously monitoring the enhancement of capability of the infrastructure with Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is monitoring the progress.
Critical rail and road connectivity has been identified and the third line on the Howrah-Chennai rail route are the most needed while doubling of Banspani-Jakhapura rail line is a top priority.Timely completion of Paradeep-Haridaspur and Angul-Sukinda rail projects have been identified as critical connectivity required for the Integrated steel hub.
The sources said Hijli to Narayangarh rail line completion and Narayangarh to Jakhapura third Line establishment is very critical for Kalinga Nagar. Doubling of Banspani-Meramundali and Bhadrak-Dhamra rail links have been stressed by the Ministry.
Also on priority is the eight Laning of State Highway-20 and six laning of Duburi-Bamnipal-Keonjhar, the sources added. Several other National Highways and State Highways require up-gradation and a new corridor is also being planned.The State Government is coordinating with the Ministries of Steel, Railways and Road Transport and Highways in this regard.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also given a bit of his mind recently on the inordinate delay in the completion of major projects while monitoring those recently.“As connectivity to and within the large industrial ecosystem is one of the topmost priorities, the State Government is working fast to create the infrastructure.