Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday said Odisha is witnessing a “second industrial revolution” with investment proposals worth Rs 21 lakh crore received in the last two years and projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore approved.
Addressing the state on the occasion of 80th Independence Day, the CM said the government’s focus has now shifted beyond mining and minerals to sectors like textile, pharmaceutical, food processing, semi-conductor, Artificial Intelligence, tourism and IT. “I would like to say from this sacred platform today that in the last two years, due to the efforts of our government, investment proposals worth Rs 21 lakh crore have been received and 453 industrial projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore have been approved,” Majhi said.
He added that foundation stones have been laid and 152 projects worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore have been inaugurated so far. “This has created employment opportunities for 250,000 youth,” the Chief Minister said.
Majhi said industries are now being set up in every district to end the long-standing regional imbalance. Citing textiles as an example, he said 20 to 30 percent of Odisha artisans currently work in Surat, Tirupur, Banaras and Ahmedabad. “Now we are building many large textile and apparel units in Odisha, due to which talented artisans of Odisha, especially women, will get employment in their own state,” he said. “Our goal is to create so many jobs in Odisha that they will no longer have to travel far and wide for work.
“He said the employment opportunities being created have already started reverse-migration in the state. The CM said the state has created an investment-friendly ecosystem and investors’ trust has increased.
“Today even the leading industrialists of the country are saying, ‘This is the time, this is the time’ to invest in Odisha,” he said, adding that Odisha has been ranked among the top five states in the country in NITI Aayog’s Investment Friendliness Index 2026.Rs 1 Lakh Cr Railway Projects, New Expressways
Highlighting infrastructure push, Majhi said Odisha is spending 6.5 percent of its GDP on infrastructure, the highest in the country. With support from the Central Government, steps are being taken for modernization of 59 railway stations and various railway projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore.
Other projects include construction and improvement of national highways worth Rs 40,000 crore, Puri International Airport, and the Rs 5,000 crore Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Region or BKPPER. The state government has also planned three major road projects: Namo Expressway from Berhampur to Jaipur, Paralakhemundi to Ambabhona, and Atal Expressway from Motu to Tiringi. “The state government will invest Rs 31,000 crore for these three projects,” the CM announced.
