Things are looking up for West Bengal with big-ticket investments not just as an announcement, but as a reality. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said he spoke to Anant Ambani of Reliance Industries Limited on Wednesday, with the latter expressing interest in investing in the state.
“Day before yesterday, I spoke to Anant Ambani over the phone. He is also interested to come. His company is interested. He asked me to come to Mumbai,” said Suvendu Adhikari, who will visit Mumbai for a meeting.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani is slated to visit Kolkata for the stone-laying ceremony of a 2000-bed hospital in the New Town area on September 24, a big win already for the BJP government.
The Tajpur deep-sea port, which was to be developed by Adani Group, has been cancelled due to a shortage of land, and plans are to shift the project to the coastal area of Dadanpatrabar in East Midnapore district over 1700 acres of land.
Other big investments include a 7.45 lakh square feet big data centre by L&T, while Amul has asked for land in North and South Bengal for two ice cream plants, for which land has been identified by the government.
A big defence project is on the cards, with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) contacting the West Bengal government. Adhikari has responded to the request by DRDO and is awaiting a response. There was also reference to four projects already initiated with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) where the Centre has been a catalyst.
“All big investors, international and national players, are interested to come here. They all want to make this nationalist government; they want to support it. They want to make the government stand, Bengal stand, from their heart. This is a big achievement for us. We will work together in the coming days,” said the CM. Adhikari also explained that the focus is on the reconstruction of West Bengal through investment, business, education and health infrastructure.
The optimism is apparent in the confidence of Adhikari’s four-month tenure as CM. Adhikari will also be attending the 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi on September 12 and 13, calling it an honour to be at the event.“It is a big programme; all Chief Ministers have been called. It is a very proud moment for me. I will attend,” confirmed the CM.
A ₹6000 crore Haldia petrochemicals project is complete and will be inaugurated soon, for which the CM will be present.
“In the coming 8 months, you will see a lot of work. From across the country, investors and businessmen are interested in investing here. You will see a lot of work,” said Adhikari.
The West Bengal government will hand over land to 33 industries before Durga Puja, which has been cleared by the cabinet.
“Whatever we are doing is foolproof. We are looking at their credentials and credibility. The company should be clean. There should be no bank fraud,” emphasised the CM.
The government says it is first making arrangements for land, then a financial commitment, looking at the environment and only then engaging with industries.
Investments which have already come into the state include Lux Cosy expansion in Dankuni with a ₹700 crore commitment, ₹1,500 crore Shyam Steel expansion project, ₹600 crore investment by Amul in Sankrail for a curd manufacturing factory, ₹1,500 crore initial investment for an integrated greenfield steel manufacturing plant by Amit Metaliks Ltd.
