PM Modi in his radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on 25 May 2025 mentioned Katejhari Village in Gadchiroli in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, where the bus service has started for the first time. This district is now going to play an important role in India’s steel production and the plan to build the world’s largest steel plant is going on here.

The JSW Group located in Gadchiroli has announced a 25 million tonne steel plant in February 2025, which will be the world’s largest. There will be an investment of about 1 lakh crore rupees in this project and it will be completed in seven years, of which the first phase will end in four years.

Garhchiroli iron ore and mining history

Iron ore in Gadchiroli was discovered by Jamshedji Tata in the early 1900s, but Jamshedpur then got priority due to lack of cooking coal. Mining activities were interrupted for a long time due to the Maoist affected area. But now the situation has changed.

About five years ago, Lloyd Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) introduced mining here. LMEL has about 1 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves. Apart from this, companies like JSW and Surajgarh Steel are also investing in this area.

The current state of mining in Gadchiroli

Gadchiroli has now become a major center of mining. Recently, LMEL has received forest approval from the Ministry of Environment to set up iron and plant in 937 hectares of area on 23 May 2025.

JSW’s 25 million tonnes of plant will significantly increase the steel production capacity of the region. A 2 million tonne plant of Surajgarh Steel is also working. On completion of these projects, the total steel capacity of Gadchiroli will reach about 33 million tonnes, which will be a big achievement for India.

Economic benefits and employment

India will be able to reduce its dependence on imports due to Gadchiroli’s high -quality iron ore (about 64% Relations). This will help India to become the world’s second largest iron ore producers.

In 2024-25, India’s iron ore production reached 182.6 million tonnes, which is 3% higher than the previous year. Thousands of people will get employment in Gadchiroli and this area will contribute to the economic progress of the country.

Infrastructure development

LMEL has launched an 85 km long iron ore slurry pipeline on 1 May 2025, which will deliver 30,000 tonnes of ore per day from Surajgarh to Kosari village. The pellet-making unit is also going to start here by June 2025.

Steps for skill development

In view of the shortage of skilled workers for the mining industry, Gondwana University has reached an agreement with Cutin University in Australia on 7 May 2025. A three -year diploma course will start from July 2025, which is designed by GU, Curtin and LMEL together. Its purpose is to train local youth in the mining sector.

future prospects

If security and environmental challenges are resolved, Gadchiroli will become one of the major steel centers in India. JSW plant and other projects will be able to increase the steel production capacity of the region to 33 million tonnes. It will also prove to India in the way of becoming the third largest economy in the world by 2028.