On 11 September 2023, the high-level clearance authority (HLCA) of Odisha cleared nine mega project proposals worth Rs 1,01,804 crore. These projects to be located in Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Bhadrak, Ganjam and Koraput districts are expected to provide direct & indirect employment to around 28,600 people. HLCA meeting was headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The details of the nine projects are as under.
The HLCA approved the proposal of JSW Utkal Steel to double the capacity of its proposed integrated steel plant at Jatadhar in Jagatsinghpur district from 12 mln tpa to 24 mln tpa. JSW has committed to invest around Rs 75,000 crore and employ around 12,000 people.
Jindal Ferrous intends to establish a 2.35 mln tpa capacity carbon steel plant at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district with an investment of Rs 3,449 crore. The steel plant will have an employment potential for 1,396 people.
The cleared proposals include MSP Metallics plans to expand its steel capacity by setting up a 1.39 million tonne steel plant supported by a 251 MW captive power plant and a railway siding at Marakuta in Jharsuguda district with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore. The project will generate employment for 4,000 people.
The HLCA approved Avaada Electro Private plans to manufacture electronics ingots, wafers, solar cells, and modules in Haldiapada in Khurda district. The project with an investment commitment of Rs 11,300 crore would create employment opportunities for 4,000 individuals.
L&T Energy Green Tech secured approval for its green ammonia plant with an annual capacity of 3,20,000 tonnes at Paradeep with an investment of Rs 1,030 crore.
Berger Paints India proposes to set up a manufacturing unit for intermediates, paints and allied products with a capacity of 4.1 lakh KLT at Khurda. The Rs 1,458.25 crore investment is expected to generate employment for 350 persons.
Indian Oil Corporation proposes to establish a polyester products unit in the Bhandaripokhari textile park in Bhadrak district. IOC will invest around Rs 4,377.46 crore and create new employment potential of 4,300.
HLCA also cleared Petronet LNG’s new terminal with a capacity of 40 lakh tpa in Gopalpur of Ganjam district.
Toshali Cement Private proposes to increase its clinker capacity to 1.75 mln tpa and cement grinding capacity to 1.40 mln tpa at Ampavalli in Koraput district, with an investment of Rs 1,383.72 crore.
Odisha is one of the favourite investment destinations of the Indian private sector. As of August 2023, as per ProjectToday.com, the state had 4,576 projects with a total investment outlay of Rs 20,31,919 crore. Of this, 617 projects worth Rs 12,68,610 crore were by the Private sector indicating a share of 62.4 percent in the total ongoing projects.
