Tata Steel Meramandali (TSM), located in Narendrapur village, Dhenkanal district, has launched a fleet of 20 electric buses, reinforcing the company’s dedication to sustainable and eco-friendly transportation for its workforce. The buses were inaugurated by Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President of Corporate Services, Tata Steel, and Uttam Singh, Vice President of Operations at TSM, who also unveiled a new bus bay complete with charging infrastructure.
The electric buses will operate within the plant premises, ensuring efficient transportation for employees during their daily movements. This initiative is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 500 tonnes of CO2 annually, contributing to Tata Steel’s ambition of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2045.
Chanakya Chaudhary commented, “The introduction of electric buses is an important step towards enhancing sustainability within Tata Steel’s operations. This will not only lower our carbon footprint but also improve convenience and efficiency for our employees during their daily commute.”
Uttam Singh added, “This initiative further strengthens our commitment to sustainability in our operations. With 15 EV cars already in use at the Meramandali plant, these new electric buses will offer additional benefits to both our employees and the environment.”
The newly built EV Bus Bay features two charging stations, each with 12 charging units, along with four maintenance pits, storage facilities, and an administrative building with offices and washrooms. The buses are equipped with cutting-edge battery technology and a range of eco-friendly features, ensuring both sustainability and comfort for users.
Tata Steel Group is one of the top global steel companies, with an annual crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum. It is highly geographically diversified, with operations and commercial presence across five continents, and recorded a consolidated turnover of approximately US$27.7 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2024.
Tata Steel, along with its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, employs over 78,000 people globally. The company has set ambitious sustainability goals, including achieving Net Zero by 2045, and is undergoing a multi-year digital transformation to become a leader in ‘Digital Steelmaking’.
Its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar, and IJmuiden plants have received the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition, and the company has been awarded the ‘Digital Enterprise of India – Steel’ Award 2024 by Economic Times CIO. Tata Steel has also been acknowledged for its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, earning the World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse 2023 recognition.
A consistent performer on the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012, it has ranked among the top 10 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016. Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur Plant is India’s first site to receive ResponsibleSteelTM Certification, followed by its Kalinganagar and Meramandali plants, with more than 90% of its steel production in India now coming from ResponsibleSteelTM certified sites.
Tata Steel’s numerous accolades include the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17, seven consecutive Steel Sustainability Champion recognitions from worldsteel, the 2023 Climate Change Leadership Award by CDP, and recognition as the most valuable mining and metals brand in India in 2024 by Brand Finance. The company has also been recognized with several awards, including the 2023 Global ERM Award of Distinction, ‘Masters of Risk’ at The India Risk Management Awards, and the ICSI Business Responsibility and Sustainability Award 2023.
