In a major development concerning critical public sector infrastructure, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is said to have accorded approval for the complete withdrawal of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) from Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP).

According to official communications issued by the CISF Directorate General in New Delhi, the pullback will affect 1,329 sanctioned posts, comprising 1,033 personnel from the security wing and 298 from the fire wing. The directive, enacted following MHA clearance on August 18, 2026, invokes Section 14(2) of the CISF Act and sets a strict three-month notice period, fixing the final pull-out deadline at November 17, 2026.

Dues and clearance

The Central directive instructs the force’s South Sector headquarters in Chennai and local unit commandants to ensure the recovery of all pending financial dues from the plant management before the exit.

Post-withdrawal, the sector Inspector General is mandated to furnish a formal compliance report alongside a ‘No-Dues Certificate’ to enable the MHA to process the permanent abolition of the units’ sanctioned posts.

While digital copies of the directive have rapidly circulated across media platforms, social media and employee circles, triggering widespread discussions among trade unions, a senior RINL official confirmed that while management is aware of the letter being circulated, the hard copy of is yet to reach the corporate office.

The impending exit of the Central paramilitary force from the core industrial complex has raised immediate questions about the future security architecture of the plant, which has seen phased reductions in Central force deployment over the recent years.

Published - August 22, 2026 07:22 pm IST