Dr. Panda also reviewed the progress of the Rowghat Mines and interacted with senior plant officials on operational priorities. He inaugurated the Central Induction Programme for newly inducted SAIL Management Trainees, marking their formal entry into the organisation. The CMD further inaugurated Project Vihaan, SAIL’s ERP modernisation initiative aimed at strengthening digital systems and improving organisational efficiency. The visit underscored SAIL’s focus on expansion, technology-led modernisation, employee development and strengthening coordination with the State Government for future growth.

SAIL Chairman and Managing Director Ashok Kumar Panda said SAIL will continue hiring at lower levels for expansion and operational requirements. SAIL has also launched a voluntary retirement scheme aimed at reducing employee numbers by another 500 to 1,000, Panda said

The steelmaker plans capital expenditure of about Rs 15,000 crore in FY27, up from around Rs 9,100 crore in FY26, as it expands plants at IISCO, Bokaro and Bhilai.

Panda said annual capital expenditure could rise further to Rs 20,000 crore-Rs 25,000 crore over the following years as expansion projects gather pace. The company said it will continue focusing on operational efficiency, cost reduction and higher capacity utilisation while managing future borrowing requirements.

Beyond finance, Dr. Panda has played a key role in areas like mining, plant operations, and projects, earning accolades such as the Jawahar Award for Excellence in Cost Management and recognition in the Chairman’s Trophy for Young Managers. His proactive approach and leadership qualities, developed through diverse assignments and global training exposure, are set to support SAIL’s vision of driving efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness in the steel sector.