ODISHA’S ₹23,600 CRORE SEMICONDUCTOR PROPOSALS PUT NARAJ AT THE CENTRE OF THE STATE’S TECHNOLOGY AMBITION

Odisha has moved another step toward building a semiconductor and electronics manufacturing ecosystem after the state unveiled an 870-acre “Odisha Silicon Valley” at Naraj near Cuttack during SEMICON India 2026 and reported investment proposals of approximately ₹23,600 crore with potential employment of around 6,100 people. The proposed technology hub is being positioned as a dedicated destination for semiconductor manufacturing, electronics, information technology and related industries, with its location along the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack corridor providing access to major highways, industrial infrastructure and the ports of Paradip and Dhamra. The development is important because Odisha is attempting to diversify its industrial economy into higher-value manufacturing rather than relying primarily on mining, metals and conventional heavy industry. The Naraj land bank gives the state an opportunity to create an ecosystem in which semiconductor companies, component manufacturers, equipment suppliers, logistics providers, research institutions and technology startups can operate close to one another. During SEMICON India, Odisha also attracted interest from companies including QuadQuantum, which is exploring a silicon-carbide substrate wafer manufacturing facility. The state’s semiconductor ambitions are being supported by a wider pipeline of projects already announced or approved. Odisha has secured commitments from multiple semiconductor companies covering silicon-carbide manufacturing, advanced packaging, memory modules and outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing. The strategic value of such an ecosystem goes beyond individual factories because semiconductor manufacturing requires a network of suppliers, skilled engineers, utilities, clean-room infrastructure, logistics and research capabilities. Naraj’s proximity to Bhubaneswar also gives companies access to the state’s existing educational and technology ecosystem while keeping them connected to the industrial infrastructure of central Odisha. The state government’s decision to market the area as a “Silicon Valley” is therefore an attempt to create a recognisable technology destination that can attract both large companies and startups. The proposal comes at a time when India is attempting to build a domestic semiconductor value chain amid global efforts by companies to diversify manufacturing and supply chains. For Odisha, success will depend on execution: land availability, reliable power and water, logistics, skilled manpower, regulatory support and the ability to attract anchor companies capable of creating supplier ecosystems. If those conditions are met, Naraj could become an important eastern India node for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. For local entrepreneurs, the opportunity may lie not only in chip fabrication but also in industrial automation, testing, packaging, software, logistics, equipment maintenance, clean-room services and specialised engineering. The proposed Silicon Valley therefore represents a potential shift in Odisha’s industrial identity—from a resource-rich economy toward a technology-enabled manufacturing economy.