Mission Purvodaya
About the initiative
Purvodaya in the steel sector is aimed at driving accelerated development of Eastern India through the establishment of an integrated steel hub.
Why in Eastern States?
- Eastern states of India (Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Northern part of Andhra Pradesh) collectively hold ~80% of the country’s iron ore, ~100% of coking coal and a significant portion of chromite, bauxite and dolomite reserves.
- There is the presence of major ports such as Paradip, Haldia, Vizag, Kolkata, etc., with >30% of India’s major port capacity.
- In India’s march towards a $5 trillion economy, the 5 Eastern states can play a major role where the steel sector can become the catalyst.
- This Eastern belt has the potential to add more than 75% of the country’s incremental steel capacity envisioned by the National Steel Policy.
About Integrated Steel Hub
The proposed Integrated Steel Hub, encompassing Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Northern Andhra Pradesh, would serve as a torchbearer for socio-economic growth of Eastern India.
The objective of this hub would be to enable swift capacity addition and improve the overall competitiveness of steel producers both in terms of cost and quality. The Integrated Steel Hub would focus on 3 key elements:
- Capacity addition through easing the setup of Greenfield steel plants
- Development of steel clusters near integrated steel plants as well as demand centres.
- Transformation of logistics and utility infrastructure which would change the socio-economic landscape in the East.
Why in News?
Addressing the 119th annual general meeting of Merchant’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry today, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel said that Mission Purvodaya will drive eastern India towards self-reliance and contribute to making of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
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