Tata Steel Kalinganagar Marks 10 Years: A Decade of Building India’s Industrial Strength!
By Ashutosh Arora
Tata Steel’s Kalinganagar plant marked a significant milestone as it completed ten years of operations, celebrating a decade defined by industrial growth, technological innovation, and meaningful community partnerships. Since its commissioning in 2015, the state-of-the-art facility has evolved into one of India’s most advanced and influential steel-making hubs, consistently raising the bar in safety, productivity, digital transformation, and sustainable manufacturing.
What began as a 3 MTPA steel plant has now expanded to an impressive capacity of 8 MTPA, supported by capital investments exceeding ₹50,000 crore. This expansion represents the largest organic growth project ever undertaken by Tata Steel and underscores the company’s long-term commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem. The Kalinganagar plant also houses India’s largest blast furnace, further cementing its strategic role in the country’s industrial framework. By producing more than 100 grades of steel within India, TSK has played a crucial role in bolstering the nation’s self-reliance and reducing dependence on imported steel.
Reflecting on the ten-year journey, TV Narendran, CEO & Managing Director of Tata Steel, noted that Kalinganagar represented a transformative chapter for the company. He emphasized that the plant symbolised the convergence of Tata Steel’s rich legacy and forward-looking vision, demonstrating how innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth could advance together. He extended his gratitude to the Odisha government, community members, employees, and partners who have been integral to the plant’s successful decade-long journey.
Kalinganagar holds a special place in Tata Steel’s history. Odisha’s mineral-rich regions have long supplied raw materials to the iconic Jamshedpur plant, but the establishment of TSK shifted this dynamic by bringing world-class steel production directly to the state. Over the past decade, Tata Steel has invested more than ₹100,000 crore in Odisha, making it the company’s single-largest investment destination in India. This sustained commitment has not only strengthened the state’s industrial ecosystem but also catalysed economic development and job creation in the region.
The plant has garnered global recognition for its pioneering adoption of smart manufacturing and digital technologies. The World Economic Forum identified TSK as India’s first — and the world’s second — manufacturing unit to be named an Advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Lighthouse, recognising its leadership in deploying cutting-edge automation, analytics, robotics, and intelligent process systems.
Sustainability forms the foundation of Kalinganagar’s operating philosophy. One-third of the plant’s area is dedicated to green cover, and the facility operates as a Zero Effluent Discharge site with 100% solid waste utilisation. Its sustainability practices were further acknowledged in 2024 when it received the prestigious ResponsibleSteel™ certification, affirming its commitment to ethical, responsible, and environmentally sound steel production.
In addition to technological and environmental leadership, TSK has been a champion of inclusive employment. Nearly 30% of its workforce comprises women, Persons with Disabilities, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and members of Affirmative Action communities, reflecting Tata Steel’s dedication to fostering diversity and creating equal opportunities in the industrial sector.
As Tata Steel Kalinganagar completes a decade of excellence, it stands as a powerful symbol of India’s industrial ambitions—one rooted in innovation, sustainability, and inclusive progress.
