The Odisha government has approved eight major industrial projects worth Rs 1.51 lakh crore, including Vedanta Group’s Rs 1.28 lakh crore investment in a three MTPA aluminium smelter and 4,900 MW captive power plant in Dhenkanal district. Cleared by the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the project is expected to create employment opportunities for 30,000 people and further establish Odisha as a global aluminium hub.

Other approved investments span sectors like chemicals, steel, textiles, and downstream metal industries across six districts—Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Khurda, and Sambalpur—bringing in an additional 30,200 work opportunities. Notably, SRF will invest Rs 10,000 crore in a specialty chemicals and refrigerant plant in Ganjam, generating work opportunities for 20,000 persons.

Jindal India Steel will set up a Rs 3,600 crore steel processing facility in Dhenkanal (2,000 work roles), and Shyam Steel will invest Rs 2,490 crore in Keonjhar, with employment potential of 2,370. Linde India’s Rs 1,303.5 crore air separation unit in Jajpur will employ 100 people. Star Metal Works and Supreme Metals plan rolling mills in Sambalpur and Keonjhar, respectively. Sportking India will invest Rs 2,055 crore in a textile unit in Khurda.