The department received this recognition in appreciation of its sustained commitment to organizational excellence through leadership coaching interventions, business appreciation programmes, cost optimization initiatives, customized MoUs, cyber security awareness, energy conservation, supervisory capability development, implementation of environmental management systems, fire control management, the Learn to Lead in All Situations programme, and continuous improvement in material handling practices.

The department also conducted customized safety training programmes for shunting operators and locomotive operators, enhancing their operational competence and reinforcing safe working practices.

The award reflects RSP’s unwavering commitment to developing competencies in industrial safety and operational excellence. Through a wide range of comprehensive learning and development initiatives, the T&RM Department has fostered a strong culture of safety, excellence, and preparedness across the plant. These sustained efforts have not only enhanced the knowledge and capabilities of employees but have also promoted safety awareness and best practices within the wider community.

In his address, Mr. Verma stressed upon the need of implementation of the Official Language (Rajbhasha) in daily official functions, documentation, and communication. He urged all departments to adopt bilingual/trilingual communications in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.  The Executive Directors gave suggestions regarding enhancing use of Rajbhasha in more official communications.

The session comprised a brief presentation by Ms. Lolati Toppo, AGM (PR-Rajbhasha) on the activities of Rajbhasha Department. Ms. Archana Satpathy, GM (PR) & CoC and Member Secretary (OLIC) elaborated on the various check points pertaining to implementation of Rajbhasha.

The remarkable enhancement in converter lining life was made possible through stringent process control, scientific refractory management practices, and consistent adherence to standard operating procedures during converter operations. The achievement highlights the operational excellence, technical competence, and dedicated teamwork of the entire SMS-II collective, including the operating crew, blowers, lance operators, and shift personnel.

Several key operational initiatives contributed significantly to this achievement, including optimized blowing practices, effective utilization of laser scanner technology, improved slag regime management, accurate end-point control, and timely gunning and patching of the refractory lining. Continuous monitoring of thermal load, bath agitation, and slag chemistry by the Area In-charge and Shift In-charges, along with disciplined control over hot metal and scrap quality, played a crucial role in minimizing localized wear and extending the converter campaign life.

The achievement also reflects the close coordination and collective efforts of the Refractory eng.dept and Operations,, Mechanical Maintenance, Electrical Maintenance of SMS-II and RCL teams, which ensured stable and consistent converter performance throughout the campaign period. The accomplishment was achieved under the overall guidance of Mr. S. S. Panda, CGM (Flux and Refractories) and Mr. M. G. Srikanth, CGM (SMS-II).

The converter lining life achieved significantly exceeded the guaranteed lining life of 6,000 heats, resulted in an estimated direct savings of approximately ₹1.5 crores. The extended campaign life of Converter ‘B’ has also contributed towards enhanced converter availability, higher productivity, and overall cost optimization of SMS-II.

Competing in the 84+ kg category, Akanksha delivered an exceptional performance and clinched Overall Gold in the championship. She also won Gold Medal in Squat by lifting an impressive 211 kg, creating a new record in the event. Further showcasing her strength and determination, she secured Bronze Medal in Bench Press with a lift of 95 kg.

Her remarkable accomplishment at the national level reflects her dedication, perseverance and sporting excellence. The achievement has brought pride not only to Rourkela Steel Plant but also to the entire Rourkela city.

A key accomplishment was the successful erection and commissioning of Belt Conveyor 501-X, designed for transporting metallurgical coke from Million Ton side to Blast Furnace-5 via the new Coke screening plant route. This installation has improved the coke supply to BF-5 and improved coke handling efficiency.

Throughout the year, several essential repair and maintenance activities were executed to sustain operational reliability. These included the safe replacement of a 40-meter Blast Furnace gas pipeline within the confined cellar area of Coke Oven Battery #1, bogie replacement on Reclaimers #1 and #2 to ensure uninterrupted coal lifting and removal of the load-lifting device on Battery-4 due to unsafe operating conditions. Additionally, a major repair campaign involving the full wall repair of 20 ovens in Battery-5B was completed successfully.

To enhance operational efficiency and ensure workmen safety, a CCTV-based surveillance system along with a RADAR-based proximity detection system was also commissioned for the Ram Cars and Guide Cars of Batteries #1, 3, 4, and 5. This upgradation has significantly improved visibility for operators and reduced safety risks during coke pushing and guiding operations.

Another pivotal initiative was the revival of the 10-ton boiler crane in the CDCP. Further in the hoists, VVVF drives were replaced and appropriately programmed, resulting in augmented production capability. Modifications to the trailing cable supporting structures on Lifter-1 and Lifter-4 were carried out, and additional hoist brake panels were erected on Lifter-3 and Lifter-4. This modification allows immediate switchover to a spare brake panel in case the hoist brake fails and a hot bucket gets stuck, thereby substantially reducing breakdown time.

A landmark achievement was the completion of capital repair on CDCP Chamber #4 within the scheduled timeframe. This repair marked the first-ever capital repair of its kind at Rourkela Steel Plant, establishing a new precedent for maintenance excellence in the plant’s operational history.

Demonstrating a notable rise in its TRUST INDEX © score, an indicator of the percentage of employees giving positive feedback during the assessment, SAIL earned the certification on the basis of a comprehensive company-wide survey conducted by the Institute. The Great Place to Work Institute, a global authority on workplace culture, honors organizations that deliver exceptional employee experiences through a rigorous evaluation process.

SAIL has been steadily rolling out progressive HR initiatives, the latest being SAIL DARPAN – a step towards a transparent, performance‑driven workplace where evaluation and target setting reflect objectivity and alignment with organizational goals, while empowering employees to own their growth. Another key initiative is offering domain‑change opportunities for executives through specialized training programs under MoUs with leading IIMs (Kozhikode, Bangalore, Jammu, Raipur, Ranchi) and renowned institutes like XLRI and ASCI, focusing on marketing and HR.

On this occasion CMD SAIL, Shri Amarendu Prakash, said, “Securing the ‘Great Place to Work’ certification for the third consecutive year is a proud moment for all of us at SAIL. This recognition is a reflection of the trust our employees place in the organization and the culture we are collectively building”.