Vedanta Aluminium’s ‘Suraksha Sarathi’ mega road safety awareness initiative covers 500 drivers in Odisha
21st February 2025
- Third edition of safety campaign organized in partnership with MCL, BTOA and transporters
Jharsuguda, Odisha; 21st February 2025: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, conducted the third edition of its mega road safety awareness campaign, ‘Suraksha Sarathi’, at Samleswari Mines in Brajrajnagar, in partnership with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), major transporters’ unions such as Brajrajnagar Truck Owners Association (BTOA) and transporters such as Inani Coal Services Pvt. Ltd. The event witnessed participation from more than 500 drivers, recognizing them as ‘Sarathis’ (charioteers) to highlight the indispensable role they play in promoting road safety. Following the positive response from stakeholders and truck drivers at the previous event in Sundargarh district, this marked the third edition in Vedanta Jharsuguda’s ongoing series of road safety campaigns at coal loading points in the vicinity of its operations.
As part of the awareness drive, Vedanta Aluminium organized several activities emphasizing the critical importance of road safety. These included a compelling ‘Nukkad Natak’ (street play) featuring actors portraying mythical characters Yamraj and Chitragupta, a road safety quiz, distribution of road safety kits, and a complimentary health check-up camp – all of which received warm appreciation from the drivers. Through these initiatives, the company underscored the significance of adhering to traffic regulations and safety protocols.
Esteemed officials who graced the occasion and actively participated in the initiatives included Mr. Lokanath Meher, Motor Vehicle Inspector, Jharsuguda; Mr. Kanhaiya Mishra, Project Officer, Samleswari Open Cast Project; Mr. K Verma, Area Safety Manager – Samleswari Open Cast Project; Mr. R.K. Sharma, Staff Officer Mining – Samleswari Open Cast Project; Mr. Debo Prasad Dash, President, Brajrajnagar Truck Owners Association; Mr. Dhananjay Singh, General Secretary, Brajrajnagar Truck Owners Association; Mr. Satish Inani and Mr. Rajesh Inani – Proprietor, Transporter Inani, Mr. Ravi Shahi, COO & Director Fuel Security, Vedanta Jharsuguda and Mr. Ernesto Matela, Director- Safety, Vedanta Jharsuguda.
Reiterating Vedanta’s safety-first culture, Mr. Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “Safety is deeply embedded in Vedanta Aluminium’s core values. With ‘Suraksha Sarathi,’ we are ensuring that road safety awareness extends beyond our operations and reaches the larger community. The ongoing campaign reinforces our continuous efforts to educate and empower truck drivers to prioritize safety. We remain committed to driving initiatives that contribute to a safer environment for all.”
Acknowledging the company’s efforts, Mr. Lokanath Mehar, MVI – Jharsuguda, said, “The combined efforts of Vedanta Aluminium and the district administration are playing a significant role in fostering a culture of road safety among truck drivers. Initiatives like these are crucial in reducing accidents and enhancing overall safety in the region.”
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 2nd in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 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.
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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