Odisha’s industrial landscape reached a significant milestone on Wednesday as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation stone for the blast furnace and construction works of JSW Steel’s mega integrated steel plant at Paradip in the Jagatsinghpur district.
This project, located at Dhinkia in the Ersama region, involves an investment of ₹1.25 lakh crore, marking it as one of the largest industrial investments in Odisha’s history. The Chief Minister referred to this occasion as a “golden chapter” in the state’s industrial development, reaffirming the government’s commitment to making Odisha the “Steel Capital” of India.
The steel complex will be developed in two phases, with an expected annual production of around 24 million tonnes of steel. Additionally, the project will feature a 12 million tonne cement plant, a 900 MW captive power system, and a dedicated jetty.
During the event, attended by JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal and senior officials from Japan-based JFE Steel, Majhi pledged the state government’s full support for the swift implementation of the project. He criticized the previous government for delays in industrial initiatives, stating that citizens had waited nearly two decades for this project to materialize. He noted that while the former administration only held a symbolic foundation-laying ceremony, the current “double-engine government” accelerated the project soon after taking office.
Majhi announced that steel production from the plant is set to begin by 2028, asserting, “Had the earlier pace continued, construction itself would have started only by 2028. Our government has ensured that production will begin by then.”
He also highlighted Odisha’s expanding industrial partnerships with foreign investors, revealing plans for a “Sister States” agreement with Japan’s Tottori prefecture to enhance collaboration in industry, tourism, and education. Additionally, he mentioned another ₹30,000 crore project with JFE Steel at Jharsuguda.
In his report on the government’s industrial performance, Majhi stated that 433 projects worth ₹8.5 lakh crore have been approved in the last two years, with the potential to create over five lakh jobs. Groundwork for 148 projects has already been completed, generating employment for nearly 2.37 lakh youths.
The Chief Minister also outlined plans to develop Paradip into a significant industrial and maritime hub similar to Gujarat’s Mundra Port through a “Two-Coast Strategy.” Besides the existing Indian Oil refinery and petrochemical complex, Paradip is expected to feature a cruise terminal and a mega shipbuilding complex in the future.
Furthermore, he announced that the proposed Paradip-Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Puri Economic Corridor would be developed with central assistance of ₹5,000 crore, potentially creating over one lakh jobs in the Paradip region alone.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain described the project as a historic step for the industrial growth of Jagatsinghpur district and assured ongoing support to investors and industries in the state.
