Russians roaming the streets of Bokaro has long
been a familiar sight here. Now, it’s the Chinese who are flocking in
large numbers, prompting many to dub the steel city “Little China”.
In 1965, work started on the Bokaro Steel Plant with Russian collaboration. Now, thanks to the upcoming plant being put by Electrosteel Castings Limited (ECL) at Chandankyari block of Siyaljora, more than 800 Chinese engineers have been at work since early 2008.
Chinese workers, both men and women, who had come in large numbers for construction of the ESL plant and set up a small township at Siyaljoli are now leaving Bokaro. The story is similar to Russian workers who had arrived in the city for construction of the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), who finally left about two decades ago.
While the 2.51 million tone (MT) Electrosteel steel plant is based on Chinese technology the city's major 4.5 MT capacity BSL plant, a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), is running on Russian technology. There are some Russian families still residing in the town.
However, the residents will now miss watching Chinese men and women wandering in markets, restaurants, hotels, parks and other places. Besides, the SP office will no longer witness Chinese nationals forming long queues for visa verification. The local market is also losing out on the Chinese clientele who had become their major buyers in a short span of time.
In 1965, work started on the Bokaro Steel Plant with Russian collaboration. Now, thanks to the upcoming plant being put by Electrosteel Castings Limited (ECL) at Chandankyari block of Siyaljora, more than 800 Chinese engineers have been at work since early 2008.
Chinese workers, both men and women, who had come in large numbers for construction of the ESL plant and set up a small township at Siyaljoli are now leaving Bokaro. The story is similar to Russian workers who had arrived in the city for construction of the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), who finally left about two decades ago.
While the 2.51 million tone (MT) Electrosteel steel plant is based on Chinese technology the city's major 4.5 MT capacity BSL plant, a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), is running on Russian technology. There are some Russian families still residing in the town.
However, the residents will now miss watching Chinese men and women wandering in markets, restaurants, hotels, parks and other places. Besides, the SP office will no longer witness Chinese nationals forming long queues for visa verification. The local market is also losing out on the Chinese clientele who had become their major buyers in a short span of time.
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