fficials have announced that a UK-based company is intending to construct a semiconductor fabrication facility in Odisha’s Ganjam district. In the initial phase, the company, SRAM & MRAM Technologies and Projects India Pvt Limited, plans to invest ₹30,000 crore. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the company’s Indian unit and the state government on March 26, formalizing their commitment to establish the semiconductor unit.
During their visit, company officials, led by Chairman Guruji Kumaran Swami, assessed various locations near Chhatrapur in the district and held a meeting with the district administration. Ganjam Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida assured the investors of providing all necessary facilities for the establishment of the unit, which requires approximately 500 to 800 acres of land.
Debadutt Singhdeo, the project director, stated that they have inspected potential sites, including the industrial park of Tata and private lands, to finalize the location for the proposed semiconductor unit. A technical team from the company will visit the district to make the final decision.
Sources reported that the company officials also visited other districts in Odisha but preferred the Chhatrapur site due to its proximity to Gopalpur port, an industrial corridor, an airstrip, and a national highway. Additionally, the availability of clean water and energy, essential requirements for the fabrication unit, played a role in their decision-making process.
The company aims to establish the semiconductor unit within two years, providing direct employment to 5,000 individuals. They have planned subsequent phases for expansion, with an investment of around ₹2 lakh crore by 2027.
The semiconductor unit will specialize in producing memory chips used in mobile phones, televisions, laptops, air conditioners, and ATMs. Currently, the country heavily relies on semiconductor imports, spending approximately ₹3 lakh crore annually on these components from various countries. The establishment of the semiconductor facility will contribute to India’s self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing.
Prasanta Patnaik