Joint task forces set up to ramp up steel demand

Joint task forces with representatives from ministries like road transport and highways have been set up to examine possibilities to boost steel demand, Parliament was informed today.
"Joint task forces covering railways, urban development, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways etc have been constituted comprising representatives from ministries concerned and their agencies to assess the possibilities of boosting demand of steel," Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The scope of these committees inter-alia covers codes and standards, life cycle cost analysis, development of designs of various structures and other suitable measures, the minister said.

Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh had earlier said steel demand is expected to improve in coming months on the back of increased spending on infrastructure and long-term government policies.
"The steel demand has grown 3.3 per cent during April-December 2016. This is expected to improve in coming months due to long-term government policies and increase in infrastructure spend," the minister had said.
India had been a bright spot in global economy, he had said, adding that the World Steel Association has predicted that steel demand in India will grow at 5.7 per cent in 2017.