National Mineral Development Corporation is planning to establish a 400-km underground slurry pipeline from Bailadila in Chhattisgarh to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The pipeline will be used to transport iron ore fines from NMDC’s Bailadila mine to RINL’s plant in Visakhapatnam. The first phase of 100 km connecting Bailadila and Jagdalpur will be completed by 2018. The second phase thereafter in a year or two. The proposed pipeline project will be a joint venture with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam and as of August 2015, the company is holding discussions with private players Essar Steel, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company to rope in as partners.