After more than two decades of protests, legal disputes, and project delays, Dhinkia near Paradip is preparing for the launch of a major integrated steel plant. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is set to inaugurate the project, marking a major milestone for the region’s industrial and steel procurement ecosystem.
The mega greenfield project is being developed by JSW Steel at the former POSCO project site with an estimated investment of nearly ₹65,000 crore. The plant is planned with a production capacity of 13.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), making it one of the biggest upcoming developments in India’s steel procurement and manufacturing sector. JSW Steel Chairman Sajjan Jindal is also expected to be present during the inauguration ceremony.
During the event, foundation stones will be laid for key operational units such as the blast furnace, coke oven, sinter plant, and steel melting shop. These facilities are expected to strengthen the future supply chain and improve industrial steel procurement capabilities across eastern India.
The project will also feature captive power plants and cargo-handling jetties to support logistics and raw material movement. According to officials, around 2,958 acres of land have already been handed over by Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha, with nearly 30% of the area reserved for forests and water body conservation.
Interestingly, this land was originally allocated to POSCO in 2005 after signing an agreement with the Odisha government to build a 12 MTPA steel plant near Paradip. However, the project faced continuous resistance from local villagers and environmental groups for years. Concerns related to displacement, environmental impact, fishing livelihoods, and farming activities had stalled the project for over a decade.
Now, with JSW Steel moving ahead, the long-pending project is finally entering a new phase, creating fresh expectations for industrial growth, employment, infrastructure development, and future steel procurement opportunities in the region.