Union Minister of Steel, Shri Ram Chandra Prasad Singh addressed a steel consumers meet at Jammu yesterday, as a part of two day public outreach program in J&K. Addressing the meet, the Minister said that the metal indispensable for economic growth, being a crucial input material for industries like construction, infrastructure, defence, automobile, engineering, packaging, etc. He assured that the Steel Ministry, along with Steel companies, with a number of new road and rail projects in the UT, the logistic constraints would be overcome leading to faster and even economic growth across the region.

The Minister applauded the initiatives taken by the J&K Government in projecting the region as an investment hub with focus on its natural resources and industrious manpower. Shri Singh also appreciated the focus on improvement in healthcare with construction of AIIMS, medical colleges, nursing colleges, etc. as well as construction of various Hydro- electric Projects to overcome the acute shortage of electricity in J&K, which has also created huge opportunities for enhancing steel consumption in the area. He mentioned that modernization and expansion of Leh airport is a laudable step.

The Chairman Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) Smt. Soma Mondal listed various strategic projects of national importance which have been executed in the region that include the Zojila tunnel, the 8.5 km all-weather hi-tech tunnel connecting Qazigund and Banihal in Jammu & Kashmir, AnjiKhad cable-stayed bridge and Pakul Dul Hydroelectric project among others.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Shri Puneet Kansal reiterated the importance of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh regions to the Government and assured full help from Ministry of Steel in facilitating better availability of steel to the industry and projects in the UTs.

The meet was organised by the Steel Authority of India Limited, SAIL and was attended by senior officials from the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, SSIC, major projects, MSMEs and dealers from various parts of the UT.

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MV/SKS