Business EconomyPosted at: Jun 17 2026 9:23PM


SEFI Backs Visakhapatnam Steel Plant–SAIL Merger, Assures Support for Revival

Visakhapatnam, June 17 (UNI): A delegation of the Steel Executive Federation of India (SEFI) on Wednesday visited the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and extended support for its revival, while strongly backing the proposed merger of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)-the corporate entity of VSP with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
The SEFI delegation, led by Chairman M.K. Banchhor, Vice-Chairman Ajay Pandey and General Secretary Sanjay Arya, inspected key operational units, including the Coke Oven Department and Steel Melt Shop, to assess the plant's functioning and challenges.
The team held discussions with Coke Oven Department Head Durgaprasad and experts from Bhilai Steel Plant on issues affecting coke oven operations.
The delegation also visited the SMS-1 Continuous Casting Department, where an accident occurred on June 8, and inspected the Bloom Storage Yard.
Later, the SEFI representatives met Chief General Manager (Works In-charge) Anindya Ghosh and Director (Operations) Sengupta to discuss operational and employee-related issues at the steel plant.
The delegation also held detailed discussions with RINL Chairman-cum-Managing Director M.N.V.S. Prabhakar on the challenges facing the organisation.
Prabhakar said the employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant were working sincerely and expressed confidence that the issues confronting the plant would be resolved soon.
Recalling his experience at NMDC Nagarnar Steel Plant, he said a similar situation had been overcome through collective efforts, leading to full-scale production and profitability.
SEFI Chairman Banchhor assured that the federation would take up the concerns of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with the Ministry of Steel and provide full support for its revival.
The delegation also met RINL Director (Finance) Vinay Kumar and discussed measures to improve the company's financial position.
SEFI leaders reiterated that a merger of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with SAIL would be beneficial for both organisations and would strengthen the domestic steel sector.
They said they would raise the issue with Members of Parliament during the forthcoming Parliament session and seek support from the Central Government for the merger proposal.
The federation urged the management to adopt a positive approach towards resolving long-pending issues of executives, including promotions, wage revisions and pension-related matters.
Later in the day, the SEFI delegation met representatives of the Steel Executive Association, who highlighted the concerns of executives working at the plant.
SEFI representatives said they would soon discuss these issues with union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik, while continuing efforts to secure all possible support for Visakhapatnam Steel Plant from SAIL.
The federation recalled that it had previously passed a resolution supporting the merger of VSP with SAIL and had also raised the matter before Parliament. It also noted that a protest programme supporting the merger had been organised at the same venue two years ago.
Expressing optimism about the plant's future, the delegation said the steel industry has historically experienced cyclical fluctuations and that both SAIL and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant had successfully overcome similar challenges in the past.
The SEFI leaders also stressed the importance of maintaining the highest safety standards at the plant and called upon executives to remain vigilant in ensuring workplace safety and preventing corruption.
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Tags: #SEFI Backs Visakhapatnam Steel Plant–SAIL Merger# Assures Support for Revival
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