In a historic move, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced the establishment of the state’s second-largest steel plant in Keonjhar district, a joint venture between South Korea’s globally renowned steel giant POSCO and India’s Jindal Steel Works (JSW).
The mega steel plant, to be set up in the Patna region of Keonjhar, marks a significant milestone in realising the long-standing aspirations of the district’s residents and advancing Odisha’s industrial landscape.
The announcement was celebrated at the State Guest House in Bhubaneswar, where thousands of Keonjhar residents, including representatives from tribal forums, youth and student organisations, press clubs, intellectuals, and local leaders, gathered to felicitate Chief Minister Majhi. They expressed heartfelt gratitude to both the Chief Minister and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for their pivotal roles in bringing this transformative project to fruition. Local MLAs Akhila Nayak (Patna) and Dr. Fakir Nayak (Telkoi) also joined the community in thanking the state and central leadership.
Chief Minister Majhi, who has long championed the utilisation of Keonjhar’s rich iron ore reserves for local development, emphasised that this project fulfils a key promise from his party’s election manifesto. “Keonjhar’s prosperity is integral to Odisha’s growth,” he stated, crediting the “double engine government” for enabling this initiative. He noted that while three of the four mega steel plants announced by Prime Minister Modi for mineral-rich states have already been established, Odisha had been overlooked due to a lack of political will. The POSCO-JSW steel plant now positions Odisha as a key player in India’s industrial growth.
The steel plant is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost infrastructure, and transform the Patna region into a modern industrial hub akin to Rourkela. “This project will shape the future of Keonjhar and Odisha,” said Majhi, urging residents, especially those in Patna, to extend full cooperation. He invoked the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Maa Tarini, and Lord Baladev Jiu, emphasising the cultural and spiritual significance of this milestone.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the broader vision of the double-engine government, which is driving widespread industrialisation across Odisha. Several major projects have already been approved by the central government, signalling a new era of economic growth for the state.
For Keonjhar’s residents, the steel plant is more than an industrial project—it is the realisation of a decades-long dream. The collaboration between POSCO and JSW is poised to harness the district’s mineral wealth, reduce dependency on exports, and create a sustainable economic ecosystem.
As Odisha steps into this new chapter, the steel plant stands as a testament to visionary leadership and community aspirations.
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