Sat Jan 18 12:31:53 UTC 2025: ## Andhra Pradesh Congress Leader Criticizes VSP Bailout Package
**Vijayawada, January 18, 2025** – Y.S. Sharmila, president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), today criticized the ₹11,440 crore financial package offered by the Union government to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), calling it a mere temporary fix. In a post on X, Ms. Sharmila argued that the only permanent solution lies in merging VSP with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and allocating captive mines to the plant.
She stated that the current package fails to address the plant’s underlying financial issues and that reaching a production capacity of 20 million tonnes is crucial for achieving true steel self-reliance. Ms. Sharmila dismissed the Centre’s claim that the VSP will become the nation’s top steel plant within two years as misleading. She emphasized that the government’s plan ignores essential long-term solutions necessary for the plant’s survival and prosperity.
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