Modi dedicates modernised Rourkela Steel Plant to nation

Odisha Channel Bureau Rourkela, April 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the modernised Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) to the nation here today.He expressed satisfaction that the steel plant’s production will increase substantially with the current modernisation.Speaking on the occasion, Modi stressed the need for proper utilisation of the country’s mineral reserves to strengthen India’s economy.Though India had gone ahead of America in steel production, the country was still behind China, he said.Stating that 65 per cent of the country’s population is young, Modi said that employment opportunities need to be created through skill development training and utilisation of mineral processing expertise.If finished products are exported abroad instead of raw materials, the country will earn more in terms of money, the Prime Minister observed.India’s eastern region should achieve development like other regions of the country, he said.He also spoke about better relations between States and the Central Government to achieve all-round development.He also spoke high of the coal auction process that had earned huge profits for the country.The Prime Minister announced that the existing Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela will be upgraded as super-specialty hospital with a medical college.He also promised that a second bridge over Brahmani river will be constructed for the benefit of the people of Rourkela.When Odisha is preparing for the Nabakalebara festival of Lord Jagannath this year, the Central Government will extend all necessary assistance for the event, Modi said.Modi, who began his speech by chanting `Jai Jagannath’, also ended his address by chanting `Jai Jagannath’ three times.The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) had undertaken the massive capacity enhancement programme in the Rourkela Steel Plant through the modernisation and expansion of all its plants.Under the modernisation and expansion (Modex) programme, RSP has completed the present phase of Modex and operationalised the new integrated steel making facilities with an investment of Rs.12,000 crores.With the commissioning of ‘Durga’, one of the country’s largest blast furnaces in this phase, RSP has augmented its hot metal capacity from 2 MTPA to 4.5 MTPA.Earlier, Modi went round the modernised facilities of the steel plant.He was accompanied by Odisha Governor S.C.Jamir, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan and other dignitaries.The dedication ceremony coincided with Utkala Dibasa, the foundation day of Odisha.Odisha State song `Bande Utkala Janani…’ was sung at the meeting before the leaders addressed the gathering. Modi and other dignitaries also offered floral tributes at the portraits of five great sons of Odisha – Madhusudan Das, Gopabandhu Das, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Veer Surendra Sai and Birsa Munda.Modi, who started his address in Odia before switching off to Hindi, also paid tributes to Gopabandhu, Madhusudan Das, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati and Birsa Munda.Today’s was Modi’s first visit to Odisha after taking as Prime Minister of the country.He had addressed a series of rallies before the general elections last year.He had addressed one of his election campaign rallies in Rourkela on April 4 last.He spoke high of Rourkela city saying that it unites the country as people from all corners of India live here.