The Odisha Government has approved 15 new industrial projects, representing a total investment of Rs 3,353 crore and anticipated to create 4,637 job opportunities. The State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA), under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, gave the green light to these projects during its recent meeting.
Diverse Sectors Spanning Key Districts
The approved projects span various sectors, including chemical/renewable energy, steel, aluminium, textiles, food processing, and tourism. These initiatives will be implemented in multiple districts, such as Koraput, Khurda, Baragarh, Puri, Cuttack, and Jharsuguda, enhancing regional economic growth.
In the chemical and renewable energy sector, Reliance Bio Energy will establish a compressed bio-gas and organic manure production facility in Puri, investing Rs 121.21 crore. This project is expected to generate 350 job opportunities. In the steel sector, Beekay Steel Industries will expand operations in Cuttack, adding sponge iron and billets production with an investment of Rs 750 crore, which will create 800 employment opportunities.
Aluminium, Manufacturing, and Food Processing Investments
Jharsuguda will see the establishment of a new aluminium conductor and power cable manufacturing plant by HM Power and Cables, backed by an investment of Rs 55.72 crore and creating 205 jobs. Meanwhile, Nexthermal Asia is set to open a heating element manufacturing unit in Khurda with an investment of Rs 55.81 crore, adding 132 jobs to the local workforce.
The food processing sector will receive significant boosts from companies like Bhuvaneshwari Foods and Beverages, Aban Beverages, and Geofast Consumer Products. Their projects in Khurda, Baragarh, and Cuttack collectively account for Rs 1,542.04 crore in investment, resulting in over 1,358 job opportunities.
Textiles and Tourism Projects on the Rise
The textile and apparel sector will see Odisha Textile Manufacturing setting up a facility in Khurda to produce recycled yarns from textile waste, with an investment of Rs 51.80 crore. The tourism sector will also experience growth with ITC expanding its five-star property, ‘Welcomhotels’, in Bhubaneswar through a Rs 119.14 crore investment that will add 240 jobs. Additional projects in Puri and Koraput by SJ JRG Ventures and Crackers India Infrastructures (LYFE Group of Hotels) will contribute Rs 154 crore in investments and create 380 new employment opportunities.
Pharmaceuticals and Cement Sector Expansion
In the pharmaceutical sector, Infunex Healthcare will establish a second unit in Cuttack to manufacture intravenous fluids, investing Rs 59.43 crore and creating 182 new jobs. Ultra Tech Cement will expand its cement grinding capacity in Cuttack from three million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to six MTPA, with a Rs 372 crore investment that will generate 581 jobs and bolster infrastructure development.