The central government has intensified efforts to prevent the disinvestment of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), commonly known as the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, fulfilling a pre-election promise made by the NDA coalition in Andhra Pradesh under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

The Ministry of Steel recently provided a substantial financial package of ₹1,650 crore to the state-owned enterprise. This follows earlier support measures, including a ₹500 crore equity infusion and a ₹1,140 crore working capital loan provided in September when the plant faced possible closure.

This latest financial support of ₹1,650 crore appears to be part of the government's strategy to prevent RINL's disinvestment. Additionally, SBICAPS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the State Bank of India (SBI), has been tasked with preparing a report on RINL's long-term sustainability.