The greenfield integrated steel plant in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is now underway. On June 4, 2005 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up of the five million tonnes plant was signed by Mr Shivraj Singh, Principal Secretary, Industries and Mineral Resources Department, Government of Chhattisgarh and Mr B Muthuraman, Managing Director, Tata Steel, in the presence of the Chief Minister, Dr Raman Singh, Mr Mahendra Karma, the Leader of the Opposition of the Chhattisgarh Assembly as well as other important dignitaries and top officials of the government and the steel Company.

The steel plant fits in with the Company’s initiative to rapidly expand both in India and overseas by placing primary manufacturing facilities closer to raw materials and finishing facilities where its customers are located.

In the first phase, Tata Steel will set up a plant with a two million tonnes capacity within 48 to 60 months of obtaining the statutory clearances. Subsequently, the capacity will be augmented to five million tonnes.

Interestingly, Bastar was among the areas earmarked by the Founder, Jamsetji Tata for his steel plant at the turn of the 20th century. A hundred years later, the Company will, the Managing Director, Mr Muthuraman committed, “bring to the plant the same work philosophy, culture, efficiency and ethics. We will use environment friendly means for the development of the captive iron ores, steel plant and its surroundings.”

This plant, which will focus on the fast growing long products segment, will create the right environment for the speedier industrial development of the state and improve the quality of life of its people,” Dr T Mukherjee, Deputy Managing Director, Steel emphasised.

Immediately after the MoU, a detailed feasibility study commenced to decide on the optimum technology and the exact location of the plant.