Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone for a transformative industrial project in Gadchiroli’s Konsari village – the 4.5 MTPA integrated steel plant spearheaded by Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited (LMEL), marking the first such plant in Vidarbha. Alongside this hallmark, the inauguration encompassed a 5 MTPA iron‑ore grinding unit in Hedri, a pioneering 10 MTPA slurry pipeline, a 4.5 MTPA pellet plant, a 100‑bed hospital, a CBSE school, and the kickoff of a township and plantation initiative planting 1 crore saplings.
This ambitious ecosystem heralds a new industrial era in this Maoist‑affected region. The slurry pipeline, spanning 85 km from Hedri to Konsari, is Maharashtra’s first and promises a 55 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to truck transport, aligning firmly with green industrial practices.
The development also carries a strong social inclusion mandate-LMEL has reportedly employed and skill-trained surrendered Maoists, contributing to regional economic upliftment. Company MD B. Prabhakaran emphasised the project’s historic resonance with Gadchiroli’s early steel ambitions and affirmed its role in driving “Green Steel” production.
This all-inclusive infrastructure project – comprising steel manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, education, housing, and greening – exemplifies a model of integrated industrial development. Leveraging high-grade local iron-ore resources with sustainable logistics footprints, it aims to stimulate thousands of jobs while transforming Gadchiroli into a hub for manufacturing and social progress.
With operational approval already secured to expand iron-ore mining capacity at Surjagarh, LMEL is primed to support its Konsari plant sustainably. As Maharashtra advances its multi-layered strategy of industrialisation and inclusive growth, this complex stands out as a flagship project in Vidarbha’s evolving economic landscape.
