Synopsis: The article details the ₹47,600 crore investment in projects initiated by the PM Modi in the state of Odisha and their prospects for the state’s industrial development, connectivity, energy infrastructure and employment generation.
Over Rs 47,600 crore worth of various projects including energy, railways, industry and renewable power were launched and inaugurated in Odisha by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The announcements are made during the visit to Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district, on the eve of President Droupadi Murmu’s birthday in her home state. Below are the 4 projects covered under the ₹47,600 crore investments.
1. Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd Project
- Project Name: Bharat Coal Gasification & Chemicals Limited (BCGCL) Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project.
- Project type: Coal gasification based chemical manufacturing project producing Technical Grade Ammonium Nitrate
- Location: Lakhanpur village, Jharsuguda district, Odisha
- Land Requirement: 350 acres
- Project Developers: BCGCL a joint venture between Coal India Limited (CIL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
- Project Budget: ₹25,000 Crore
- Expected Completion: September 2029
- Capacity: 0.66 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA)
- Main Product: Technical Grade Ammonium Nitrate
- Technology adopted: Indigenous Pressurised Fluidised Bed Gasification (PFBG)
- Strategic Importance: Project supports the National Coal Gasification Mission in India and helps in promotion of production of Chemicals in the country.
- Economic Impact: It is expected to create jobs, enhance skill development, create ancillary industries, and encourage industrial development in the region.
2. Power Infrastructure Upgrades
The Odisha Power Infrastructure Upgrade Projects, with a total investment of ₹17,117 crore, aim to increase the state’s power generation potential, ensure energy security, and meet the growing demand for electricity from industries as well as households across Odisha.
The Odisha Power Infrastructure Upgrade Projects include the Stage-II expansion of the IB Thermal Power Station in Jharsuguda district, which will add a total capacity of 1,320 MW to increase thermal power generation and improve baseload supply. Another key initiative is the Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project, a 600 MW pumped hydro energy storage project designed to store surplus electricity and enhance grid stability during periods of peak demand.
The package also includes a Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant in Bhubaneswar with a processing capacity of 300 tonnes per day, aimed at supporting wastewater treatment. Additionally, the Surya Gram (Solar Village) development in Pahadpur village will establish solar-powered village infrastructure, strengthening Odisha’s power resilience, supporting industrial development, facilitating the integration of renewable energy, and reducing dependence on conventional energy sources.
3. Railway Multi-Tracking Projects
- Project Type: Multi-Tracking Projects for Odisha Railways
- Total Investment: ₹732 crore
- Development agency: East Coast Railway (ECoR)
Major Project 1: Jakhapura-Jajpur Keonjhar Road-Baitarani Road Multi-Tracking Project
- Cost: ₹323 crore
- Length: 19 km
- Parent Corridor: Part of the Bhadrak-Nergundi Multi-tracking Project.
- Impact: enhances train timings, mitigates congestion and improves speed of freight including coal to ports and industry centres.
Major Project 2: Hindol Road- Meramandali Multi-Tracking Project
- Cost: ₹409 crore
- Length: 27 km
- Parent Corridor: Part of Budhapank – Salegaon Multi-tracking Project
- Impact: Smoother transport of industrial commodities, including coal, steel and raw materials for the power sector
- Economic Impact: Expected to enhance supply chain efficiency, less delays in transit and the growth of industries and trade in the region.
4. Pahadpur Solar Village
The Pahadpur Solar Village (Surya Gram) Project is a village-wide renewable energy initiative focused on rooftop solar electrification in Pahadpur, Kusumi block, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. The project aims to transform Pahadpur into a model village powered entirely by solar energy with clean energy-based infrastructure. While the project-specific budget has not been publicly disclosed, it targets 100% solar penetration across households through Solar PV rooftop systems integrated with net-metering.
Complementing the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (SGMBY), the project will facilitate rooftop solar installations of up to 3 kW per household. It is expected to reduce electricity costs, improve energy self-sufficiency, create green jobs, and serve as a replicable model for solar-powered rural development.
Conclusion
The investment worth ₹47,600 crore is a big step towards infrastructure and industrial development in Odisha. The investments cover sectors like energy, railways, manufacturing, renewable energy and are likely to contribute towards the economic development of the state as well as generation of employment and its contribution to India’s economic growth story.
