Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy announced a Rs 200 billion expansion plan for the Bokaro Steel Plant in Jharkhand on Tuesday, aimed at increasing its production capacity from 5.25 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 7.55 MTPA. The move is a step toward fulfilling India's goal of self-sufficiency in steel production as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The ambitious plan will include the construction of a new 4,500 cubic meter blast furnace, along with facilities such as thin slab casting, direct rolling, a calcining plant, a stamp-charged coke oven battery, and an expanded sinter plant. This overhaul is expected to strengthen India’s steel industry, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic growth and aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 300 MTPA steel industry by 2030.

The expansion is also set to generate significant employment opportunities, including 10,000 indirect jobs and 2,500 permanent positions in the region. Additionally, the plant is making strides in sustainability with the installation of 30 MW of floating solar power and 20 MW of land-based solar power generation.

This expansion reaffirms India's commitment to technological advancement and self-reliance in steel production, further enhancing the sector’s capacity to meet future demands.