The Odisha government has approved 19 major investment proposals, amounting to an impressive Rs 3,898.54 crore.
The decisions were finalised by the State-Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA), headed by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and are expected to create 7,464 new employment opportunities across various sectors. The approved projects span multiple high-growth industries, ranging from steel, logistics, and food processing to agro-processing, chemicals, and tourism. This diverse portfolio of investments underscores the state’s strategy to build a balanced industrial ecosystem while ensuring that economic growth is inclusive, touching every corner of Odisha.
The steel sector, which continues to be a key pillar of Odisha’s industrial strategy, saw major investments. TATA Steel, for instance, is set to enhance its crude steel capacity in Dhenkanal district, pumping an additional Rs 700 crore into the expansion, which will increase production from 6.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 7.1 MTPA. Other steel-related ventures also received approvals, including Sree Metaliks Ltd’s Rs 885 crore expansion of its integrated steel plant in Keonjhar, and Lal Baba Seamless Tubes Pvt Ltd’s planned Rs 200 crore precision tube manufacturing unit in Cuttack. The industrial gases sector, another crucial area for economic development, saw substantial investment with Linde India Ltd earmarking Rs 425 crore for an air separation unit in Jajpur. This state-of-the-art facility will have an annual production capacity of over 12 lakh tonnes of industrial gases, significantly boosting the state’s industrial gas output.
Additionally, the logistics sector is poised for a major uplift with ACME Clean Energy Pvt Ltd planning a jetty-less floating terminal in Ganjam with an investment of Rs 366.5 crore. This development is expected to enhance the region’s maritime infrastructure and facilitate smoother goods transportation, thus strengthening Odisha’s position as a critical logistics hub. Food processing and beverages also feature prominently in this latest round of investments. Bhuvaneshwari Foods and Beverages Pvt Ltd plans to set up a Rs 300 crore beverages unit in Khurda, which will contribute significantly to both employment and economic activity in the region.
Moreover, the government’s commitment to fostering regional development is evident in the strategic spread of these investments across 11 districts, including Angul, Balasore, Cuttack, and Khurda. By ensuring that projects are distributed across different geographical locations, the government aims to achieve balanced regional development, helping to reduce regional disparities and promote inclusive growth.
However, as the state welcomes these investments, concerns about the environmental impact and sustainability of such large-scale industrial projects remain pertinent. While the investments are poised to stimulate significant economic growth, there is a growing call for Odisha to balance its industrial ambitions with eco-friendly initiatives and ensure that the carbon footprint of these projects remains in check. The focus on sustainable and green technologies in sectors such as logistics and food processing will be key to ensuring that Odisha’s industrial expansion does not come at the cost of environmental degradation. The latest round of approvals signals the Odisha government’s confidence in the state’s potential to attract large-scale investments and its growing appeal as a key industrial destination. With several projects expected to come online in the coming months, Odisha is positioning itself as a major player in India’s industrial growth story, while also aiming to provide a better standard of living for its residents through new employment opportunities and regional development.
As the state prepares for these projects to take shape, the focus will now shift to ensuring that the infrastructure, workforce training, and regulatory frameworks are in place to support the rapid expansion of these industries. Whether Odisha can strike the right balance between growth and sustainability remains to be seen, but the steps taken so far are certainly a promising start to a more prosperous future.
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