Assocham today asked the government to grant infrastructure status to slurry pipelines to address

RELATED ARTICLES Trade deficit can balloon to $262b this fiscal: Assocham Assocham calls for variable diesel price hike

the bulk transportation needs of the steel sector.

The industry chamber said the steel sector is facing logistical problems due to poor infrastructure for supply of iron ore and coal.

"Moving iron ore and coal by pipelines in slurry form has advantages like low operating costs, higher availability and is environment-friendly. Existing railway lines are almost reaching a saturation point," it said in its suggestions for the National Steel Policy (NSP).

A new NSP is expected to be unveiled by the end of the current fiscal.

Assocham said in 2008, the Planning Commission granted infrastructure status to pipelines for water and oil and gas, but not to slurry pipelines.

"Finished steel products need to be moved expeditiously from the plants to ports as dynamic market conditions place heavy strains on logistic systems to deliver products to consumers in the shortest possible time at economical costs," it added.