Bhubaneswar: Odisha has taken a major leap in its industrial growth journey with the approval of a ₹35,000-crore steel plant in Dhenkanal, as the 43rd meeting of the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, cleared seven large industrial projects with a combined investment of ₹55,783 crore. The approved projects have the potential to generate 14,507 employment opportunities across multiple districts of the state.
Leading the approvals is Saffron Resources Pvt Ltd, a JSW Group company, which will set up a 6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) steel plant in Dhenkanal. The mega project alone accounts for over 60 per cent of the total approved investment and is expected to create around 8,000 jobs, significantly reinforcing Odisha’s position as one of India’s foremost steel manufacturing hubs.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the latest investment clearances reflect the government’s strategy of promoting balanced regional development while strengthening Odisha’s industrial backbone. “Through these investment clearances, we are focusing on different parts of Odisha to make the state strong, Atmanirbhar and ready for Samruddha Odisha by 2036,” he said.
The HLCA approvals span a diverse range of sectors, including steel, rare earth manufacturing, automobiles and auto-components, semiconductors, industrial gases, ferroalloys, and power and renewable energy. The projects are proposed across Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Keonjhar and Khordha districts, underlining the state’s emphasis on decentralised and inclusive industrial growth.
In a major boost to advanced manufacturing, Jindal Poly Films Limited has proposed an investment of ₹12,000 crore in Ganjam to establish a titanium dioxide pigment manufacturing unit with a capacity of 0.5 MTPA under the rare earth category. The project is expected to generate 4,000 employment opportunities and marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s capabilities in high-value materials.
The automobiles and auto-components sector also received a fillip, with a reputed company planning to invest ₹1,697 crore in Ganjam to set up a unit for manufacturing tyres, carbon black and zinc oxide, creating 685 jobs.
Strengthening Odisha’s footprint in the semiconductor sector, Sancode Semi Pvt Limited will establish an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing (OSAT) facility in Khordha with an investment of ₹1,649.98 crore. The project is expected to generate 570 employment opportunities and further consolidate the state’s emerging semiconductor ecosystem.
In the industrial gases segment, Inox Air Products Pvt Ltd has proposed an investment of ₹1,300 crore to set up an air separation unit in Dhenkanal, which will cater to the growing industrial demand for high-quality gases and create 180 jobs.
The ferroalloys sector saw approval for a ₹2,000-crore investment by Ferro Alloys Corporation Limited in Keonjhar to establish facilities for ferro manganese, silico manganese, manganese ore beneficiation, along with a 100 MW captive power plant. The project is expected to generate 772 employment opportunities.
Additionally, GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited will invest ₹2,136.02 crore to set up a 350 MW thermal power plant in Dhenkanal, creating 300 jobs and strengthening the state’s power infrastructure to support industrial expansion.
Officials said the approvals underscore Odisha’s continued focus on industrial diversification, technology-led growth and investor-friendly governance. With faster clearances and a clear policy direction, the state is steadily emerging as a preferred destination for both traditional industries and sunrise sectors.
The industrial push aligns with the national vision of “Viksit Bharat by 2047” and Odisha’s long-term goal of achieving “Samruddha Odisha by 2036”, with the Chief Minister’s leadership driving inclusive, sustainable and high-impact development across the state.
