Women Empowerment / Breaking Stereotypes: Vedanta Aluminium Lanjigarh’s Control Rooms Powered by 100% Women Operators

Bhubaneswar, Aug 22: At Vedanta Aluminium’s Lanjigarh refinery in Odisha, women are redefining the future of manufacturing by taking complete charge of its Control Room operations. India’s largest aluminium producer has achieved a milestone with women comprising 100% of its Control Room Operator (CRO) workforce, ensuring seamless functioning of one of the world’s largest alumina refineries.

Supported by a diverse team of 4 Duty Officers and 16 Control Room Engineers — including 9 women and 7 men — the operators oversee the refinery’s Distributed Control System (DCS), which integrates hundreds of data streams to maintain production stability. Their role demands precision, quick decision-making and technical expertise, underscoring the growing presence of women in core industrial functions.

Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Alumina Business, Vedanta Aluminium, Lanjigarh, said: “The women leading our Control Rooms exemplify the technical excellence, commitment, and leadership that strengthen our operations every day. Their achievements reflect our belief in fostering an inclusive workplace where every individual has the opportunity to excel and contribute meaningfully to our growth.”

For Ankita Rath, who joined Vedanta Aluminium in 2017, the Control Room has been a space of professional and personal growth. From laboratory functions to Production DCS, she has steadily built expertise while balancing motherhood. Her proudest moment remains contributing to the refinery’s highest-ever alumina production in 2025.

Similarly, Nisika Das, who joined as a fresher in 2023, recalls the commissioning of the refinery’s 3 MTPA expansion project as a defining milestone. “That moment gave me immense confidence. It shaped my resilience and helped me grow both professionally and personally,” she said.

Stories like theirs highlight a larger transformation at Vedanta Aluminium Lanjigarh, where women are not only participating but also leading in roles demanding technical excellence and operational responsibility.

Manager-DCS Production, Jitendra Kumar Saini, added: “The Central Control Room is the nerve centre of the refinery. Our operators are the eyes and ears of the plant, making real-time decisions with precision and composure. They are vital to operational excellence.”

The growing presence of women in Control Room operations reflects more than inclusion — it signals the rise of a new generation of manufacturing professionals shaping the future of industrial workplaces.