Vedanta Jharsuguda joins hand with MCL to launch pioneering tech-enabled safety drive at Lakhanpur Rail Siding

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JHARSUGUDA, NOVEMBER 17, 2025

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has taken a decisive leap in strengthening industrial safety culture with Suraksha Sampark, a first-of-its-kind technology-enabled safety awareness initiative conducted at the Lakhanpur Railway Siding in partnership with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL). The programme marks a major milestone in Vedanta’s safety stewardship, expanding its interventions from mines and plant operations to the critical rail siding ecosystem that forms the backbone of regional logistics.

Building on the company’s earlier Suraksha Sarathi programme, which drove extensive road safety engagement across Samleswari, Garjanbahal, and Lakhanpur mines, this specialised edition focused on cultivating safety-conscious behaviour and risk awareness among rail siding workers. The initiative targeted workers in key operational roles — including siding supervisors, payload operators, and shift-in-charges of MCL — through a curriculum crafted after detailed safety assessments and joint brainstorming with MCL officials. It addressed high-risk areas such as work at height, blind spot detection, vehicle discipline, electrical hazards, line-of-fire situations, fire safety, emergency preparedness, and fatigue management.

A central highlight of Suraksha Sampark was its immersive use of cutting-edge technologies. Participants trained through Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and advanced simulators that replicated real-world industrial scenarios without exposing workers to actual risk. The programme also introduced hands-on cognitive and reaction-based assessments designed to demonstrate how fatigue, distraction, and stress affect decision-making and responsiveness in high-pressure environments.

Commenting on the initiative, 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.”

MCL leadership echoed this sentiment, lauding Vedanta’s proactive approach to expanding safety awareness beyond its operational boundaries. 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.”

The event showcased a suite of advanced safety technologies, including Drunk Buster goggles that simulate impaired driving, live demonstrations of fall arrest systems for working at height, and hands-on experience with fatigue detection tools such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Participants also explored VinCense, a wireless biometric monitoring solution capable of tracking vital signs such as heart rate, alertness, and stress in real time. VR-based simulations enabled workers to safely practise critical tasks like navigating uneven terrains, handling heavy loads, and responding to fire-related emergencies — reinforcing correct safety behaviour through experience rather than instruction.

The initiative concluded with a collective safety pledge and the felicitation of MCL’s ground staff and technical operators who participated actively in the programme, reaffirming the shared commitment to building a robust safety-first culture. Suraksha Sampark stands as a forward-looking collaboration between Vedanta Aluminium and MCL, demonstrating how technology, training, and empathy can converge to strengthen Jharsuguda’s industrial safety ecosystem.