The State Level Single Window Clearance Authority of the Odisha government has given its approval to four industrial projects, including manufacturing of an oxygen cylinder plant, envisaging an investment of around Rs 1,637.41 crore.

Once these projects get going, it will generate direct employment opportunities for 1,116 people.

Principal secretary industry Hemant Kumar Sharma said: “The proposals are mainly from the sectors like downstream manufacturing, metal, and power sector. The proposers are well known industrial houses and their coming in will provide further fillip to the sectors.”

The project includes expansion of Tata Steel Limited’s iron ore beneficiation plant from 12MMTPA to 17.6MMTPA with an investment of Rs 946 crore. It will be set up in Joda in Keonjhar district and will create employment opportunities for over 803 persons.

“We have also given approval for setting up an oxygen cylinder manufacturing plant with capacity of 10,80,000 cylinders per annum by M/s. ShyamMetalics and Energy Limited against an investment of Rs 55.10 crore to be set up in Rengali Industrial Estate in Sambalpur, with potential employment potential for over 162 persons,” officials said.

The other proposals include a 50MW solar PV power generation plant by M/s Mahanadi Coalfields Limited against an investment of Rs 254.71 crore to be set up in Boudh, with employment potential for over 36 persons.

“The authority chaired by chief secretary has also given its nod to the railway wagon manufacturing plant having capacity of 1,500 Wagon per annum along with 0.394 MMTPA Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)” officials said, adding that 0.5 MMTPA Railway Siding plant by M/s. Shyam Metalics and Energy Limited will come up against an investment of Rs 381.60 crore. The plant will be set up in Hirakud in Sambalpur district. It will create employment opportunities for over 115 persons.

Managing director IPICOL (Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited) Nitin Bhanudas Jawale said, “Because of the improved ‘ease of doing business’ and facilitating promotional policies of state government, major investors are now considering Odisha as a flourishing destination of investment.”