Work Begins for ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel Plant in Odisha
Land verification underway for AM/NS India’s ₹1.02 lakh crore steel project at Badatubi
The Odisha government has officially begun the land verification process to acquire 383 acres for the much-anticipated ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AM/NS) India steel plant in Badatubi village, located in Kendrapara district’s Mahakalapada block.
This marks a major step toward setting up what is expected to be one of the world’s largest steel manufacturing units with a production capacity of 24 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), at an estimated investment of ₹1.02 lakh crore.
District officials, led by Kendrapara deputy collector and land acquisition officer Kuini Jena, launched the verification process on Friday. The goal is to identify rightful landowners by examining key documents such as land records, title deeds, encumbrance certificates, and any ongoing legal disputes. “This step is essential to ensure transparency and accuracy before land acquisition,” said Jena.
Once the verification is completed, the land will be officially handed over to AM/NS India. Authorities have assured that all villagers affected by the acquisition will be compensated according to the rules laid out in the Right to Fair -Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The acquisition is part of Phase I of the project, and the process began formally with a government notification issued on December 3, 2023. The steel plant is expected to be a game-changer for Odisha, boosting industrial development and generating significant employment opportunities.
This project has been in the spotlight since August 2021, when ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman Lakshmi Niwas Mittal personally visited the site. Later, during a high-level meeting in Tokyo in April 2023, then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Nippon Steel Corporation President Eiji Hashimoto announced that the world’s largest steel plant would be built in Odisha.
The coastal village of Badatubi was chosen for its strategic location and accessibility. The new plant is not only expected to strengthen India’s steel output globally but also transform the economic landscape of Kendrapara and surrounding regions.
As the groundwork begins, all eyes are on the smooth execution of land acquisition and subsequent construction of the mega steel project.
