Bhubaneswar: Tata Steel Meramandali (TSM) recently dedicated two major infrastructure projects – illumination of a 3.6 Kilometre stretch of NH-55 between Itap and Nuahata and the renovation of Sarpa village pond – in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district to improve road safety and strengthen water harvesting in the periphery of its plant.
Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, D B Sundara Ramam, and Vice President, Operations, Tata Steel Meramandali, Sudhir Kumar Meheta, inaugurated the project in the presence of local leaders.
The project features 90 street lights mounted on 9-metre tubular double-arm poles, each equipped with twin 150-watt LED fixtures. The enhanced ligh
ting is expected to significantly improve night-time visibility and bolster road safety for the thousands of commuters who use this busy corridor.
Notably, Union Education MinisterDharmendra Pradhan had laid the foundation of this project on August 27.
Tata Steel has also undertaken the renovation of a pond at Sarpa village, spread over 6008 sq m. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the work, which included muck disposal, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and concrete slope lining, a 1.5-metre-wide pathway, solar street lights, and a floating fountain to maintain dissolved oxygen levels. A staircase and seating area will be added to improve access for villagers and aesthetic value, a company release said.
“The project aims to sustain local ecosystems and community well-being. This water body will help recharge groundwater, support biodiversity, and daily use,” it further noted.
In addition to this, a 20-km solar-powered road lighting project from Santri Chowk to Maidharpur, located in elephant-prone areas is also being undertaken by Tata Steel Foundation, it added.