Vedanta Jharsuguda Partners with MCL to Boost Safety in Rail Siding Operations
17th November 2025
- A first-of-its-kind initiative in the industry, the campaign leveraged Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence based systems to advance a Safety-first culture among rail siding workers
Jharsuguda, Odisha, November 17, 2025: Vedanta Aluminum, India’s largest producer of Aluminum, reinforced its unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of safety and innovation through Suraksha Sampark, a mass safety awareness initiative organized at the Lakhanpur Railway Siding in collaboration with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL). This industry-first campaign marked a significant milestone by extending the scope of Vedanta’s safety interventions to the railway siding ecosystem, a critical component of logistics operations.
Expanding the scope of the company’s previous Suraksha Sarathi efforts which focused on extensive road safety awareness across Samleswari, Garjanbahal, and Lakhanpur mines, this special event focused on promoting safety-conscious practices and behavioral awareness among rail siding workers through cutting-edge technology, experiential learning, and human engagement. The training focused on workers in roles such as siding supervisor, payload operators, shift-in-charges of MCL and was designed to address high-risk areas identified during a detailed safety brainstorming session with MCL officials. This event was focused on work-at-height situations, blind spot awareness, vehicle and driving discipline, electrical safety, line of fire hazards, fire safety, emergency preparedness and fatigue management.
The campaign featured interactive demonstrations by industry experts and practical training sessions using Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and advanced simulators to create real-life safety experiences in a risk-free environment. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises such as reaction-time measurement, cognitive ability tests and decision-making simulations to understand how fatigue, distractions and stress influence their performance.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. C Chandru, CEO, Vedanta Jharsuguda, said, “At Vedanta, safety is not just a matter of compliance, it is a mindset we nurture every single day. Efforts such as Suraksha Sampark represent our unwavering commitment to extend the circle of safety beyond our plant gates, reaching the loading point and mines level. Through technology-driven experiential learning, we are empowering every individual to make safety a personal responsibility”.
Participants and partners appreciated Vedanta Aluminium’s sustained efforts to promote workplace safety beyond its operational boundaries. Mr. Awadh Kishore Pandey, General Manager, Lakhanpur Area, MCL, said, “The Suraksha Sampark training reminded us today that safety must grow into our culture. When safety becomes a natural part of our mindset, we don’t need constant reminders, our actions will always reflect it. This joint effort between Vedanta and MCL is a strong beginning, and I hope to see even greater participation as we carry this culture forward.”
Examples of the technology demonstrated included the Drunk Buster goggles training, which allowed participants to experience the disorientation caused by impaired driving in a controlled setting. In addition, a dedicated session on working at height provided live demonstrations of personal fall arrest systems and safety harnesses. Another highlight of the event was the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) for fatigue detection and VinCense, a wireless health monitoring system that tracks key biometric indicators such as heart rate, alertness, and stress levels in real time. The immersive VR experience enabled participants to simulate complex industrial scenarios such as driving on uneven terrains, handling heavy loads, and responding to fires, helping them internalize correct safety behaviour through practice rather than instruction.
The event concluded with a safety pledge and the felicitation of ground staff and technical operators of MCL who had participated in the event, demonstrating their support towards building a culture of safety. The collaborative effort between Vedanta Aluminium and MCL reflects a shared vision of building a safety-first culture across Jharsuguda’s industrial ecosystem. With Suraksha Sampark, Vedanta Aluminium continues to drive innovation and awareness in safety management, empowering its extended workforce through education, technology, and empathy.
About Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company’s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programmes with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com
About Vedanta Aluminium Business:
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
For more information, please log on to www.vedantaaluminium.com
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