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Why are many of Odisha’s heavy industries located in interior regions?

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Puri: Jagannatha temple — Odisha Jagannatha temple, Puri, Odisha, India.

Many of Odisha’s heavy industries are concentrated in the interior regions primarily because they are tied to the state’s significant mineral wealth. Odisha is a national leader in the production of essential industrial resources, including iron ore, bauxite, chromite, manganese, nickel, and graphite.12

Locating large-scale manufacturing facilities—such as those for steel, aluminum, and fertilizer production—near these extraction sites minimizes transportation costs and logistical challenges. Furthermore, these interior industries are supported by a local energy base, particularly coal deposits found near the east-central city of Dhenkanal, as well as dedicated captive power plants. While coastal areas host smaller-scale industries and processing facilities, the interior remains the hub for heavy, mineral-based industrial activity.12