Odisha CM inaugurates India's first FRP aluminium unit; Company highlights Rs 50,000 crore investment

Sambalpur/Rourkela: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday inaugurated India’s first flat rolled products (FRP) aluminium unit at the Aditya Aluminium plant of Hindalco Industries Limited at Lapanga in Sambalpur district besides laying foundation of the company’s expansion plan, marking the beginning of his two-day tour to western Odisha.Apart from inaugurating the Rs 5,000-crore aluminium FRP unit, the CM inaugurated a Rs 834 crore specialised battery foil unit and laid the foundation stone for the expansion of the smelter plant involving an investment of Rs 21,162 crore. These would generate more than 5,000 jobs, bolstering downstream manufacturing and creating new livelihood opportunities in the region, a govt statement said.Addressing the gathering, the CM said western Odisha today “stands as a symbol of confidence, discipline and enterprise”, transforming from forests and farmlands into a global manufacturing hub. He added that a new industrial revolution is underway in Odisha, with around Rs 20 lakh crore in fresh proposals, which could create 15 lakh jobs once operational.Emphasising the role of the workforce, Majhi said development should be measured “not by investments or announcements, but by real change in people’s lives — jobs for youth, security for families, and better education and healthcare”. He said western Odisha is emerging as a global industrial hub where world-class investments align with people-centric development.The CM urged people to welcome industries, saying, “Industry is a key foundation of our prosperous future.”Hindalco MD Satish Pai said the total investment in these projects is envisaged at Rs 50,000 crore, which would generate employment for around 15,000 youths. He added that about 4,500 women would be newly employed across its facilities in Keonjhar, Rayagada and Sambalpur.Attending the event, Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra highlighted the need for generating jobs for locals. He recalled that during his tenure as labour minister, he had sent a proposal seeking priority employment for locals.Later in the day, the CM inaugurated the 25th CII Enterprise Odisha Exhibition 2026 in Rourkela, where leading companies from various sectors are showcasing their capabilities, innovations and industrial growth stories. The inaugural evening featured a cultural programme and Rourkela’s first drone show.On the second day on Wednesday, Majhi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple projects and participate in sectoral roundtables and B2G meetings as part of Enterprise Odisha.