Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Alok Verma took over as Director at-Charge of the state-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) facility at Rourkela, Odisha, on Monday. Verma, who received a B Tech in Mechanical Engineering from BIT Sindri (Ranchi University), began working as a Management Trainee (Technical) at Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), a division of Steel Authority of India Limited, in 1991.
Verma was instrumental in the timely completion of rolling mill projects in 1997, 2007, 2015, and 2023 throughout his 32-year stint at Bokaro. A trained Six Sigma Black Belt, he completed several important tasks outside of the Mills’ operations. These include the creation of three new products, the deployment of ERP, six sigma certification, and the patenting of the technical design of hot rolling coiling processes. The Rolling Mills’ operating efficiency, manufacturing volume, and product quality were all greatly improved by their efforts. Verma diligently collaborated with the business analytics division to optimize the product mix, identify investment requirements, and conduct proactive analysis of business data to tailor production to market trends.
Verma received a promotion to Executive Director in July 2023 and was given charge of the Mines of Rourkela Steel Plant. He was instrumental in the smooth integration of the Rourkela Steel Plant’s systems with those of the recently established Odisha Group of Mines. After an almost 40-year break, manganese mining was resumed in Bolani under his skillful guidance, and the Odisha Group of Mines produced a record 14.30 million tons of iron ore in fiscal year 2023–2024. Sending tailings from Barsua and dump fines from Bolani to other organizations for pellet conversion has been made possible in large part by Verma’s capacity to compile intricate data and make well-informed judgments. Additionally, he was in charge of installing and starting up a tertiary crusher at Bolani to manage large lumps.
Verma took up the additional duty of ED (Works) of RSP from September 30, 2024. After then, from November 15, 2024, till he assumed the position of Director In-Charge, he was the Rourkela Steel Plant’s ED In-Charge (Works). He has established a reputation as a leader who sets the standard high and fosters a culture of constant development because of his uncompromising devotion to excellence and perfect execution. In addition to winning the Asian Champions to represent India in the Global Contest, he was a member of the team that competed in Management Business Simulations and won the National Championship.
As a technocrat who travels extensively, he has seen China, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and other nations, collecting important knowledge about the technology used in steel production.
