The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
JHARSUGUDA, FEBRUARY 22, 2025
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, conducted the third edition of its flagship road safety awareness campaign, ‘Suraksha Sarathi,’ at Samleswari Mines in Brajrajnagar on Friday. Organized in collaboration with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Brajrajnagar Truck Owners’ Association (BTOA), and transporters such as Inani Coal Services Pvt. Ltd., the initiative saw participation from over 500 drivers, acknowledging their crucial role in road safety.
Building on the success of previous editions, including the recent one in Sundargarh district, this event reinforced Vedanta Jharsuguda’s ongoing commitment to raising awareness at key coal loading points near its operations. The campaign featured impactful activities designed to drive home the importance of traffic regulations and safety measures.
As part of the initiative, participants engaged in various activities, including a ‘Nukkad Natak’ (street play) depicting mythological figures Yamraj and Chitragupta to emphasize the consequences of reckless driving. A road safety quiz, distribution of safety kits, and a complimentary health check-up camp were also organized, earning appreciation from the attendees.
The event was graced by esteemed officials, including Lokanath Meher, Motor Vehicle Inspector, Jharsuguda; Kanhaiya Mishra, Project Officer, Samleswari Open Cast Project; K Verma, Area Safety Manager – Samleswari Open Cast Project; R.K. Sharma, Staff Officer Mining – Samleswari Open Cast Project; Debo Prasad Dash, President, Brajrajnagar Truck Owners Association; Dhananjay Singh, General Secretary, Brajrajnagar Truck Owners’ Association; Satish Inani and Rajesh Inani, Proprietors of Inani Coal Services Pvt. Ltd.; Ravi Shahi, COO & Director Fuel Security, Vedanta Jharsuguda; and Ernesto Matela, Director-Safety, Vedanta Jharsuguda.
Reaffirming the company’s safety-first approach, Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium, stated, “Safety is an integral part of Vedanta Aluminium’s core values. With ‘Suraksha Sarathi,’ we aim to extend road safety awareness beyond our operations to the larger community. This initiative underscores our continuous commitment to educating and empowering truck drivers to make safety their top priority.”
Highlighting the significance of the campaign, Lokanath Meher, MVI – Jharsuguda, remarked, “The joint efforts of Vedanta Aluminium and the district administration are instrumental in fostering a culture of road safety among truck drivers. Initiatives like these are crucial in reducing road accidents and enhancing safety across the region.”
Vedanta Aluminium, a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest aluminium producer, contributing over 2.37 million tonnes in FY24—more than half of the country’s total aluminium output. The company is renowned for its high-quality, value-added aluminium products that support critical industries worldwide. Vedanta Aluminium ranks second in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium sector, a testament to its leadership in sustainable business practices. With world-class smelters, an alumina refinery, and power plants, the company continues to pioneer aluminium applications as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener and more sustainable tomorrow.
