Singh said that the national steel policy draft has been prepared by the ministry after detailed deliberations and has been uploaded on the ministry’s website to seek suggestions from different stakeholders. The policy envisions that the Indian steel sector follows a sustainable path of development and increases steel production capacity to 300 million tonnes per annum by 2030-31. 

 

The ministry’s capacity in 2015-16 was 122 million tonnes. It aims to increase per capita steel consumption in India to 160 kg by 2030-31 from the present 61 kg. 

 

The ministry has constituted four committees with representatives from Institute for Steel Development & Growth (INSDAG), steel producers, consultants, architects, users and government authorities to promote steel usage. The mandates for these committees are formulation of codes and standards, life cycle cost analysis and sustainability, development of designs of various utility structures and skill development in steel sector. Similarly, four task forces have also been constituted for increasing steel usage in Railways, urban development, road transport and highways and shipbuilding sector.

 

The Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), MECON and INSDAG are in the process of standardising design of steel intensive building and bridges, which will be used to promote adoption of steel intensive structures. 

 

Singh added that last month, brand promotion began through inaugural run of the Vizag Steel Samata Express at Nizamuddin Station. SAIL has also started its advertisement campaign.