In order to further enhance its position as a major industrial hub in Eastern India, the Odisha government authorised nine projects with an investment proposal of more than Rs 1 lakh crore, with a potential employment of 28,565 persons across various sectors.

The projects totaling Rs 1,01,804 crore were authorised at a high-level clearance authority (HLCA) meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The industrial units will be located in Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Bhadrak, Ganjam and Koraput districts.

The HLCA approved the proposal of JSW Utkal Steel Limited to double the capacity of its planned integrated steel plant at Jatadhar in Jagatsinghpur district from 12 million tonne per annum (MTPA) to 24 MTPA.

The project has an investment proposal of Rs 75,000 crore and employment potential for 12,000 people.

Jindal Ferrous Limited was given the go-ahead to establish a 2.35 MTPA capacity carbon steel plant at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district with an investment of Rs 3,449 crore and employment potential for 1,396 people.