R K Kakrania, the director of DPPC who claims that his factory is totally automated, using digital controls in producing the fine products said, “The project will not only help to tap the unexplored business potential of the northeastern region and adjacent countries but also provide employment in the state which will ensure the rapid socio-economic development of the state. The state government here is much more responsive and friendly than any other state and now the state capital is connected by rail. We hope the Bangladesh government will see reason and soon give transit facility through Chittagong port and once that happens, this place shall be better than Calcutta,” Mr. Kakrania said. He also said, “At the outset of the project, there was a lot of scepticism on how we would manage to conclude such an ambitious project here. Despite infractural challenges and constraints, we have achieved what we had envision and it gives me immense satisfaction to see the first phase complete and the products rolling.”

DPPC which along with galvanized sheets shall also produce coloured sheets has also targeted the growing market in Bangladesh and so it has already set up its office in the capital Dhaka.

“By June the first consignment shall be exported to Bangladesh hopefully but we are aware and prepared to compete with China and Korea to enter into the South East Asian market,” Mr. Kakrani said.

Spread over 24 acres covering area of 24,000 sq. meters, with a total excavation of 190,000 cubic meters and a total concreting work of 18,000 cubic meters, the plant will manufacture cold rolled sheets, galvanised corrugated and plain sheets and cold rolled closed annealed sheets needed by the roofing, automobile industry and for making cupboards, panels, grain storage bins and silos and barrels.

Mr. A. K. Sarkar, production controller said, “There shall be four types of products in this factory which are of the finest uniform quality using the latest digital controlled machines. We are not only taking care of our products and the socio economic development of the state but we are also taking care that the wastage of the factory is not harmful and polluting so we have a recycling plant in our factory.”

DPPC which started its journey back in 1929 has grown into a Rs 250-crore company. More than 300 youth of the state have already got employment in the state and the company has provided specialised training. It is estimated that the project can generate employment for nearly 1,000 people in the near future.

Rajesh Debbarma a local youth who is earning Rs. 2,400 monthly said, “I was unemployed till a few days back but with the setting up of the factory many more like me got employment here. Moreover, the local people are now getting tin sheets for roofing from the factory at a lower price because earlier this used to come from outside state.”

State-owned upstream oil major Oil and Natural Gas Corp is supplying gas to the steel plant.

Apart from steel, Mr. Kakrania said that DPL has already commenced work to set up a ceramic tiles unit in Guwahati. The project is expected to start production by April 2010.