Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt on Wednesday cleared investment proposals worth Rs 2.47 lakh crore across 27 projects in 15 districts, with ventures expected to generate over 50,000 jobs and deepen the state’s push into new-age sectors such as data centres, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and green energy.The proposals, approved at the 46th meeting of the high-level clearance authority (HLCA) chaired by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, entail a cumulative investment of Rs 2,47,115.70 crore and are projected to create 50,162 employment opportunities.“The scale and diversity of investments reflect growing investor confidence in Odisha and the transformation of its industrial landscape,” Majhi said, adding that the state’s focus remains on creating quality jobs, future-ready infrastructure and balanced regional development.While traditional sectors such as steel and power continue to attract substantial investments, digital infrastructure emerged as the biggest growth driver. Four projects in the data centre and IT ecosystem alone account for investments worth nearly Rs 1.43 lakh crore, making it the largest sector among approved proposals.Among big-ticket projects, High Density Datacentre Ltd will set up an integrated data centre in Khurda at an investment of Rs 1,04,550 crore, while HCL Technologies will establish an AI-optimised data centre in the district with an investment of Rs 14,257 crore. Sentraforge AI Ltd will build an AI data centre and global capability centre in Puri with an investment of Rs 22,634 crore. RKD Construction Pvt Ltd will invest Rs 1,500 crore in a data centre project in Cuttack.The power and renewable energy sector attracted proposals worth Rs 54,288 crore. NLC India Ltd secured approval for two thermal power projects, including a 3,200-MW plant in Deogarh and a 1,080-MW facility in Angul, involving a combined investment of over Rs 46,000 crore. Two pumped-storage hydropower projects in Rayagada and Koraput were also cleared.The steel sector is set for major expansion in Sundargarh, with Rungta Mines Ltd and Shakambhari Ispat & Power Ltd together committing Rs 14,000 crore. The projects are expected to generate around 17,000 jobs and add significant production capacity.Odisha also strengthened its position as a hub for lab-grown diamonds, with five projects worth Rs 10,680 crore approved in Khurda and Ganjam districts. The sector is projected to create nearly 9,000 jobs.In another boost to advanced manufacturing, SICSEM Pvt Ltd will establish a silicon carbide wafer and gallium nitride manufacturing unit in Khurda with an investment of Rs 2,078 crore, while Aare Solar Pvt Ltd will set up a battery energy storage system assembly plant in Nuapada. Larsen & Toubro received approvals for green energy equipment manufacturing and advanced fabrication facilities in Ganjam.The HLCA also cleared a Rs 3,000-crore green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel project in Kendrapada. Adani Foundation received approval to set up a 1,000-bed multi-super-speciality hospital in Khurda at an investment of Rs 2,150 crore.Other notable investments include Tata Steel’s Rs 3,329-crore iron ore grinding unit and slurry pipeline project in Jajpur, Grasim Industries’ chemical manufacturing unit in Ganjam, a textile mill in Kalahandi and a tyre manufacturing unit in Bhadrak.The approved projects are spread across Angul, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kendrapada, Khurda, Koraput, Nuapada, Puri, Rayagada and Sundargarh districts.