Bhubaneswar: The BJD has demanded that Odisha be included in the industrial corridor projects ahead of its mega business show, Make in Odisha Conclave, scheduled to be held in November.

BJD general secretary and MLA Sanjay Das Burma said: "It is unfortunate when Odis-ha is trying hard to emerge as the industrial hub of the country, the Centre is not giving its support for the development of the state. Despite all attempts by the state government, the Centre has not included Odisha in its industrial corridor project."

Das Burma said: "I have already raised the issue in the Assembly. We have around 400km coastline with rich resources and industries. If the corridor includes the state, it can create job opportunities for the unemployed and boost industrial growth here."

He said: "We had raised the issue with the former commerce and industries minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, but all our efforts to this effect has so far proved futile."

He said: "Our chief minister had also raised the issue for inclusion of Odisha in the industrial corridor by extending the Vishakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor to Balasore. However, the proposal is yet to get the nod."

In order to promote industries, the Centre is planning to develop industrial corridors to connect Delhi-Mumbai, Chennai-Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam-Chennai, Bangalore-Mu-mbai and Amritsar-Calcutta.

Without getting the Centre's support, the Odisha government has decided to develop its existing industrial hubs here to attract investment.

As a part of this initiative to promote the industrial hubs, the Odisha government had last week given its nod to set up a commercial airport at Dhamra in Bhadrak district. The Adani Group had proposed to set up the airport at Dhamra Port for better air connectivity for Odisha. The government also decided to develop port-based industries at Dhamra. We have asked the Bhadrak district administration to identify the land required for the purpose," said an official.

The Odisha government also wants introduction of commercial flights to Jharsuguda to promote the industrial hub. Last week, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu to introduce commercial flights to Jharsuguda. "To begin with, one of Air India flight from Bhubaneswar to Delhi may be routed through Jharsuguda," Naveen had said in his letter to Prabhu.

Odisha also wanted Jharsuguda airport, which is to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 22, to be named after noted freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai.