BS reported that TATA Steel, which is developing a 6 million tonne Greenfield steel plant at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district of Odisha, hopes to commission first phase of the project with a capacity of 3 million tonne by August 2014.

Mr HM Nerurkar MD of TATA Steel said that "We are getting cooperation of the locals. Construction work on our Kalinganagar plant is going on in full swing. By August 2014, we hope to commission the first phase of the plant."

The first phase of the project would see an investment of INR 25,000 crore. The Greenfield steel plant at Kalinganagar will concentrate entirely on flat steel products, catering to the needs of the automotive industry and white goods.

Mr Nerurkar and Mr B Muthuraman vice chairman of TATA Steel called on CM Mr Naveen Patnaik to apprise him on the status of Kalingangar steel plant and industrial park at Gopalpur where the steel maker is the anchor tenant.

Mr Nerurkar said that TATA Steel was keen on taking up 2 new projects at Gopalpur in addition to the 2 existing projects. However, he refused to spell out the details, saying the projects were yet to be approved by the company's board.

The steel maker had lined up 2 projects at the Gopalpur industrial park a 50,000 tonne per annum ferroalloys plant and 4,00,000 tonne per annum bar mill.

TATA Steel would invest INR 1,000 crore on these 2 projects which would initially create employment for 1,000 people.

While the ferroalloys plant will cost about INR 200 crore to INR 250 crore, the bar mill will be set up at an investment of INR 750 crore to INR 800 crore. This will be the third ferroalloys plant of TATA Steel in Odisha. The company is operating two ferroalloys plants at Bamanipal and Athgarh with capacities of 50,000 tonne per annum each.

TATA Steel had got the environment clearance for the Gopalpur industrial park. It was awaiting CRZ nod for the project. The company has placed all major orders for its projects at Gopalpur industrial park being developed on around 3,500 acres of land.