Odisha Clears ₹2.47 Lakh Crore Projects: Data Centres, AI and Power Lead Infrastructure Push

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has approved 27 major industrial projects involving ₹2,47,115.70 crore of investment across 15 districts, creating a major new pipeline spanning artificial intelligence, data centres, power, semiconductors, green energy, steel, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.

The projects were cleared by the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) at its 46th meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on September 23. The projects have the potential to generate 50,162 jobs, according to the state government.

Data centres and AI dominate investment

Digital infrastructure is the largest component of the latest investment pipeline.

Four projects in the IT, IT-enabled services and data-centre segment account for nearly ₹1.43 lakh crore.

The biggest proposal is from High Density Datacentre Ltd, which plans to invest ₹1,04,550 crore in an integrated data centre in Khordha.

HCL Technologies has proposed an AI-optimised data centre in Khordha with an investment of ₹14,257 crore.

Meanwhile, Sentraforge AI plans to invest ₹22,634 crore in an AI data centre and global capability centre in Puri. Another ₹1,500 crore data centre has been proposed in Cuttack.

Power infrastructure gets ₹54,288 crore

The expansion of digital infrastructure is being accompanied by major investment in the state’s power sector.

Four power and renewable-energy projects together involve around ₹54,287.70 crore.

NLC India has proposed a 3,200 MW thermal power plant in Deogarh involving an investment of approximately ₹34,764 crore. Another 1,080 MW thermal power project in Angul involves around ₹11,604 crore.

Two pumped-storage projects in Rayagada and Koraput have also received approval, involving combined investment of about ₹7,920 crore.

Semiconductors and green energy

Odisha’s latest investment pipeline also includes projects in newer technology and clean-energy industries.

A semiconductor-related project by SiCSem involves a proposed ₹2,078 crore facility for silicon carbide wafers and gallium nitride in Khordha.

The state has also approved projects involving battery storage, green-energy equipment and green fuels, adding to Odisha’s emerging clean-energy manufacturing ecosystem.

The combination of data centres, power generation, energy storage and renewable-energy projects could create a wider infrastructure network supporting the state’s digital and industrial expansion.

Steel and logistics remain important

Traditional industrial infrastructure continues to receive major investment.

Two steel projects in Sundargarh together involve around ₹14,000 crore.

Tata Steel has also proposed a ₹3,329 crore iron-ore grinding unit with a slurry pipeline in Jajpur, strengthening the mineral-to-metal logistics chain around the Kalinganagar industrial region.

Healthcare infrastructure also expands

The investment pipeline extends beyond industry and technology.

The Adani Foundation has proposed a 1,000-bed multi-super-speciality hospital in Khordha with an investment of ₹2,150 crore.

The projects are spread across 15 districts, including Khordha, Puri, Cuttack, Jajpur, Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada and Sundargarh.

What does this mean for Odisha?

The scale of the approvals points towards a broader transformation of Odisha’s infrastructure ecosystem.

Data centres and AI facilities will require reliable electricity, high-speed connectivity, cooling and supporting industrial infrastructure. Manufacturing projects will create additional demand for roads, logistics, industrial land, power and water.

However, the ₹2.47 lakh crore figure represents approved investment proposals, not completed projects. The actual economic and infrastructure impact will depend on how successfully these projects move from approval to construction and operations.

For Odisha, the latest clearance exercise brings together AI, digital infrastructure, power, energy storage, manufacturing and logistics, potentially creating a more diversified industrial infrastructure base across the state.