Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday met Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal here to assess the status of the company’s proposed investments in Odisha, estimated at over Rs 1 lakh crore. The discussion centred on fast-tracking execution and ensuring timely rollout of the projects.Vedanta has positioned itself among the state’s largest investors, with its key proposals, including a 60 lakh tonne alumina refinery in Rayagada, 30 lakh tonne aluminium smelter in Dhenkanal, a 6,000 MW power plant, downstream aluminium park, and integrated coal and bauxite operations.According to officials, land for major projects — including the refinery in Rayagada, smelter and power plant in Dhenkanal — has already been allotted, and work on essential infrastructure is in progress. The company’s coal block is expected to be operational within a year, while the railway ministry has cleared a rail connectivity project near the upcoming bauxite mine.The proposed aluminium park, to be developed near the smelter, is likely to produce high-end products catering to sectors such as aerospace, electric mobility and defence. These initiatives are expected to strengthen industrial growth in central and southern Odisha, besides supporting ancillary units and MSMEs.Majhi said the state govt will review progress every fortnight to address the hurdles, if any, promptly. “This investment will open up vast employment opportunities for our youth and hasten Odisha’s goal of becoming a $500-billion economy by 2036,” he said.Agarwal said that the projects would significantly boost the state’s economy, create jobs at scale and support local businesses.
