The Visakhapatnam steel plant - Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited is planning to produce one million tonnes of special steel during 2017-18, according to Chairman and Managing Director P. Madhusudan.

He was speaking in the plant on Tuesday after inaugurating the all-India special steel customers' meet organised by the marketing department of the RINL.

He said that the RINL had rolled out spring steel and spring steel flats for the first time in 80/16 size. The plant had also started production of low-alloy steel from the structural and special bar mill. Special steel products would largely cater to the needs of automobile industry, the Railways and engineering industry, he added.

He said special steel would play a significant role in improving the brand image and bottom line of the RINL. He said the RINL had completed the modernisation of the existing units with the blowing-in of blast furnace two and expressed confidence that the company would fare better during the current year with the operation of all the three blast furnaces.

P. Raychaudhury, the Director (Commercial), and P.K Rath, the Director (Operations) also spoke on the occasion.