Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of these projects held at Bhuinpur in Khurda district, Karan Adani, managing director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd said the group’s latest projects are part of a long-term commitment to Odisha’s development trajectory.
The conglomerate will invest ₹30,181 crore in a thermal power plant near Cuttack, ₹2,100 crore in a cement manufacturing unit in the same region and ₹800 crore to set up a data centre at Info Valley in Bhubaneswar. Together, the projects are expected to generate close to 10,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
"The upcoming data centre would anchor Odisha’s role in the digital economy, serving as critical infrastructure for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and e-governance. It will not be a building full of servers but Odisha's claim on the digital economy. The project is expected to create around 200 high-skilled jobs," Adani said.
The thermal power project, the largest among the three, is aimed at strengthening energy security in the region, he said. The plant will bring stability to the grid and energy security for the industries, he said, emphasising that reliable and affordable power was central to sustaining industrial growth. The power plant would support both large industries and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) while generating around 7,000 jobs, Adani added.
The cement manufacturing unit will support the state’s infrastructure push by ensuring local availability of the key construction material. The facility is expected to employ around 2,500 people and contribute to sectors such as housing, healthcare and transport.
Framing Odisha’s growth within a broader historical continuum, Adani invoked the state’s legacy — from the transformative impact of the Kalinga war on Emperor Ashoka to its maritime trade links with Southeast Asia and architectural sophistication, while underlining its enduring capacity for global influence and innovation.
He recalled Odisha’s ancient maritime prowess and how Kalingan traders sailed across the Bay of Bengal to regions such as Java, Sumatra and Bali, carrying with them not just goods but culture, language and architectural traditions. “Odisha’s reach was not regional, it was oceanic,” Adani said.
He further cited the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple as a symbol of the state’s scientific and architectural excellence. Referring to the temple’s intricate design, including its 24 wheels functioning as sundials and its precise alignment with the winter solstice, Adani said this was evidence of a civilisation that combined artistic vision with advanced mathematical understanding. “Konark was built by people who did not think small. They looked at the sky and decided to match it,” he said.
The Adani Ports MD highlighted Odisha’s structural advantages, including its 570-km coastline, abundant reserves of coal, iron ore, bauxite and chromite and a young workforce as key enablers of long-term growth. He also credited the state government for adopting a facilitative approach towards industry, describing it as a “partner, not a gatekeeper.”
The Adani Group already has a significant presence in Odisha across ports, logistics and mining. The latest investments, Adani said, mark a shift from being a participant to a long-term builder in the state’s development journey. “Taken together, these projects are a statement of belief,” he said, adding that the alignment between the group’s growth and Odisha’s economic rise forms the basis of a durable partnership.
Thanking the Odisha government and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for his leadership and clarity of vision, Adani said the group would approach its commitments with a strong sense of responsibility.
Fresh investments from Adani Group come as Odisha positions itself as a key driver of India’s industrial and digital growth. The state has set a target of becoming a $500 billion economy by 2036 and scaling up threefold over the following decade, by banking on infrastructure-led growth and private sector participation.
 "Karan Adani, managing director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd interacting with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday. Also seen is Hemant Sharma, additional chief secretary of Industries department")