Bhubaneswar: Odisha has cleared 27 major investment projects worth ₹2,47,115.70 crore across 15 districts, with the proposals expected to generate 50,162 jobs, as the state seeks to expand its industrial base into data centres, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, green energy and other emerging sectors.
The approvals were granted at the 46th meeting of the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday.
Data centres, IT, IT-enabled services and AI account for the largest share of the approved investment, with four projects together involving around ₹1.43 lakh crore. High Density Datacentre Limited’s proposed integrated data centre park in Khordha accounts for ₹1,04,550 crore, while HCL Technologies has proposed an AI-optimised data centre in the district with an investment of ₹14,257 crore.
In Puri, Sentraforge AI Ltd will set up an AI data centre and Global Capability Centre with an investment of ₹22,634 crore, while RKD Construction Private Limited will establish a data centre in Cuttack with an investment of ₹1,500 crore.
The power and renewable energy sector received approvals for four projects involving ₹54,287.70 crore. These include NLC India’s proposed 3,200 MW thermal power plant in Deogarh at ₹34,763.51 crore and a 1,080 MW plant in Angul at ₹11,604.19 crore. Two pumped-storage hydro projects have also been approved in Rayagada and Koraput.
The approvals also include ₹14,000 crore worth of steel projects in Sundargarh. Rungta Mines will expand its integrated steel plant with an investment of ₹9,000 crore, while Shakambhari Ispat & Power will establish an integrated steel, cement and captive power plant with an investment of ₹5,000 crore. Together, the two projects have a potential employment generation of 17,000.
Odisha’s lab-grown diamond sector is set for further expansion with five projects involving ₹10,680 crore. Four of these are in Khordha, while Neorganic Diamonds will establish a manufacturing unit in Ganjam.
The state also approved projects in semiconductor and green-energy manufacturing. SICSEM Pvt Ltd will invest ₹2,078 crore in a facility for silicon carbide wafers and gallium nitride in Khordha, while Aare Solar will establish a 10 GWh advanced LFP battery energy storage system assembly plant in Nuapada with an investment of ₹1,050 crore.
Larsen and Toubro will invest ₹5,000 crore in a green energy equipment manufacturing unit in Ganjam. It will also establish an advanced fabrication and manufacturing complex worth ₹2,100 crore and a shipbuilding and ship-repair complex worth ₹1,000 crore in the district.
In Kendrapada, Jiribam Solar Power will set up a facility for green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol and electro-sustainable aviation fuel with an investment of ₹3,000 crore.
The approvals extend to healthcare and other manufacturing sectors as well. Adani Foundation will establish a 1,000-bed multi-super-speciality hospital in Khordha with an investment of ₹2,150 crore, while Tata Steel will set up a 7 MTPA iron ore grinding unit with a slurry pipeline in Jajpur at ₹3,329 crore.
Projects have also been approved in chemicals, textiles and automobile-related manufacturing, including a composite textile mill in Kalahandi, chemical manufacturing units in Ganjam and Dhenkanal, and an OHT tyre manufacturing unit in Bhadrak.
Majhi said the scale and diversity of the approvals reflected growing investor confidence in Odisha. He said the government’s focus was not only on attracting investment but also on creating quality employment, building future-ready infrastructure and expanding industrialisation across different regions of the state.
The 27 projects are spread across Angul, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kendrapada, Khordha, Koraput, Nuapada, Puri, Rayagada and Sundargarh, widening the geographical spread of the state’s investment pipeline beyond its traditional industrial centres.
