Odisha has set a target to scale its steel production capacity to 100 million tonnes (100 mn t) by 2030, and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has urged steel companies to prepare a clear roadmap to meet the objective. At a high-level meeting in Bhubaneswar with industry and mining stakeholders, the Chief Minister said the state will facilitate clearances and policy support to enable higher iron ore production and seamless dispatch of the raw material.

Officials said iron ore output must be increased in line with the Mine Development and Production Agreement minimum dispatch obligations while remaining within regulatory limits. The government is preparing a comprehensive database of land acquired for compensatory afforestation to assist investors in assessing district-wise availability and has drawn up an annual auction calendar for 2026-27 to expedite allocation of mining blocks and improve predictability for industry planning.

The delegation included the president of the Indian Steel Association, Naveen Jindal, and senior executives from Tata Steel, JSW Steel and AMNS India. Industry representatives praised Odisha's mining policy and transparent auction system as supportive of revenue generation and investment, and they urged prioritisation of operational steel plants in ore allocation by the Odisha Mining Corporation. Jindal conveyed that sustained raw material security was critical to realising the capacity target and outlined practical inputs from companies.

Majhi highlighted regional imbalances and noted that mineral-rich districts continue to have a relatively low industrial presence, urging companies to expand into these areas to boost production and generate local employment. He asked firms to prioritise the basic needs and welfare of local communities as part of their investment plans. Senior officials including Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh and leaders of the Odisha Mining Corporation were present and the state signalled readiness to combine policy incentives with administrative support.