Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has formed a 17-member high-level task force to fast-track industrial projects worth over Rs 17 lakh crore, aiming to resolve delays, streamline approvals, and boost job creation.
The committee will be headed by the Chief Secretary, who will oversee inter-departmental coordination to address bottlenecks in sectors like mining, energy, highways, and land acquisition. The task force will reportedly monitor major projects, including those under the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) and PRAGATI initiatives, ensuring real-time issue resolution.
The move follows the state’s recent successes in securing investment commitments worth Rs 16.73 lakh crore during the Utkarsh Odisha: Make-in-Odisha Conclave 2025 in January and an additional 1 lakh crore investment intent secured last week.
The ventures, spanning 593 projects across 20+ sectors, will generate more than 12.88 lakh jobs and boost the Odisha economy. At a recent investors’ meet in New Delhi, the state signed 13 MoUs worth Rs 1.03 lakh crore, including agreements with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Petronet LNG.
Notably, these projects alone are expected to create 67,000 jobs, with 15 additional investment proposals promising 95,915 employment opportunities. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasised Odisha’s ambition to emerge as a petrochemical and manufacturing hub, calling the IOCL pact a landmark step.
To accelerate project grounding, the government introduced a tiered land allocation policy: 30 acres in 30 days, 50 acres in 50 days, and 100 acres in 100 days. This policy targets delays in statutory clearances and land acquisition that have stalled key rail and highway projects.
The Majhi administration aims to transform Odisha into a developed state by 2036, coinciding with the centenary of statehood. By prioritizing investor-friendly policies, single-window clearances, and infrastructure upgrades, the government seeks to position Odisha as a national industrial hub within a decade, marking a new chapter in the development story.