New Delhi witnessed a profound loss on Wednesday as Jatinder Mehra, a towering figure in India’s steel industry, breathed his last. His departure marks the end of an era in the nation’s metals and mining sector, leaving behind a legacy etched in steel and ambition.
Over six decades, Mehra’s career was a testament to technical brilliance and strategic foresight. He had an uncanny ability to transform bold visions into massive industrial successes, earning him universal respect across boardrooms and factory floors.
At Essar Group, where he served as Vice President of the metals and mining division, Mehra steered the company’s steel and metals businesses through turbulent times. His leadership was instrumental in shaping long-term strategies and expanding production capacities, particularly through landmark projects at Hazira.
Essar issued a heartfelt tribute, calling him a visionary leader whose clarity, dedication, and guidance defined some of the group’s most celebrated achievements. ‘We are deeply saddened by the loss of a respected stalwart of India’s steel industry, whose foresight laid the foundation for Essar’s key milestones,’ the company stated. His contributions remain deeply embedded in Essar’s journey, and his legacy will continue to inspire the organization.
Mehra’s influence extended to pioneering major integrated projects like the Paradip Steel Plant in Odisha, bolstering Essar’s global footprint in the steel market. Before Essar, he held senior roles in India’s public sector steel giants. As Executive Director at Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and later Chairman and Managing Director at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), he oversaw the commissioning of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant—a milestone that revolutionized the country’s steel production.
The Indian Steel Association honored his lifelong contributions with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. Colleagues remember him as a mentor and thinker who shaped generations of professionals through guidance, discipline, and inspiration.
As the steel industry grapples with this irreplaceable void, Mehra’s passing serves as a reminder of the giants who built modern India. Tributes continue to pour in, celebrating a life dedicated to forging the nation’s industrial strength.