The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has successfully garnered significant investment commitments exceeding Rs 43,000 crore during a high-profile business and industry conclave held in Kolkata. The event saw participation from top industrial houses who announced major expansion plans across sectors like power, cement, manufacturing, and hospitality.
Major Investment Announcements from Industry Giants
The conclave was a powerhouse of corporate leadership, with figures like ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri, RPSG Group Chairman Sanjiv Goenka, and JK Group Director Chaitanya Hari Singhania sharing the stage. A key highlight was the announcement by JSW Energy. Its Joint MD and CEO, Sharad Mahendra, revealed plans for a new 1,600 MW supercritical power plant at Salboni. This will double the group's capacity at the location to 3,200 MW.
Mahendra stated that the group's total investment in Bengal's power sector would reach a staggering Rs 40,000 crore, with an incremental investment of Rs 24,000 crore. "We have received environmental clearance for the first phase of 800 MW x 2. The project will generate employment for approximately 3,000 people," he said. He further added that JSW is in the process of acquiring a supercritical boiler manufacturing unit in Durgapur, which would be the only such facility in Eastern India.
Diversified Growth Across Sectors
Other major corporations laid out their blueprints for growth in the state. ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri announced that the conglomerate is planning to open five new hotels and is actively scouting for land in prime locations like Darjeeling, Kurseong, and the Sunderbans.
In the manufacturing sphere, Umesh Chowdhary, Vice Chairman of Titagarh Rail Systems, declared an ambitious plan to produce 1,000 metro coaches and Vande Bharat coaches at its Uttarpara facility. This expansion is poised to make it one of the largest rolling stock manufacturing hubs outside China.
Prasoon Mukherjee of Universal Success Enterprises, who flew in from Singapore for the event, confirmed that work has already begun on the data centre project announced the previous year.
Returning Roots and Green Energy Push
Expressing sentimental and strategic confidence, JK Group's Chaitanya Hari Singhania announced a return to the group's birthplace. "After a gap of five decades, we will recommence manufacturing in Bengal. We are establishing two new plants in Kharagpur for milk processing and potato processing," Singhania stated.
The green energy sector also received a boost. German financial institution KFW declared its partnership with the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) for the second phase of a solar power project in the state. Additionally, Ultratech Cement, represented by Executive President Mukesh B Agarwal, announced an expansion of its cement capacity in Bengal by one million tonnes with an investment of Rs 600 crore.
The conclave, attended by a host of other dignitaries including representatives from the World Bank, demonstrated a collective vote of confidence in West Bengal's industrial ecosystem. The cumulative investment proposals of over Rs 43,000 crore underscore a significant phase of planned industrial and infrastructural development for the state, promising job creation and economic diversification.
