Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday reaffirmed his administration’s focus on attracting large-scale investment to the state, saying he will travel to Mumbai to meet Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and Anant Ambani following the Ganesh festival and announcing that Gautam Adani will visit the state on September 24.
Industry push across sectors
at the inauguration of a garment outlet in Kolkata hosted by the Agrawal Group, the chief minister argued that his government had worked to restore Bengal’s credibility with industry after what he described as a period of syndicate and corruption under the previous regime. He said his administration had, within four months of taking office, set out to build an "industry-friendly environment".Adhikari outlined a multi-sector investment thrust, naming healthcare, manufacturing and defence among priority areas. He said the state would allot land to 33 companies before Durga Puja and pointed to several specific proposals already in various stages of planning or implementation.
“The state’s reputation was tarnished because of syndicate and cut money. We are building an industry-friendly environment.”
Projects and proposals flagged
The chief minister said he had met Karan Adani, managing director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, and that the Adani group was planning a nearly 2,000-bed hospital in New Town–Rajarhat. He also referred to ongoing activity at Garden Reach Shipbuilders, where he said four projects were underway.
Adhikari additionally said land had been identified for two ice-cream factories — one each in North and South Bengal — for Amul production. He announced that a DRDO project would be set up at Junput in East Midnapore, stating that he had already approved the proposal after the Defence Research and Development Organisation had earlier written to the state government.
According to the report, Japanese firm Mitsubishi has shown interest in establishing a semiconductor facility in the state — a sector that state governments across India have been keen to attract — though Adhikari did not elaborate further on the timeline or scale in his remarks.
What was promised before Durga Puja
- 33 companies to be allotted land before Durga Puja.
- Gautam Adani to visit Bengal on September 24.
- Meeting with Mukesh Ambani and Anant Ambani planned post-Ganesh Puja in Mumbai.
- ~2,000-bed hospital proposed in New Town–Rajarhat by the Adani group.
- DRDO project to be established at Junput, East Midnapore.
| Project / Proposal | Location | Status (as announced) |
|---|---|---|
| Adani Group hospital (~2,000 beds) | New Town–Rajarhat | Planned (Adani group interest reported) |
| DRDO facility | Junput, East Midnapore | Approved by Chief Minister; DRDO had written earlier |
| Amul ice-cream factories | North and South Bengal | Land identified |
| Semiconductor plant (Mitsubishi interest) | State-wide (not specified) | Interest expressed (no firm commitments detailed) |
Political and economic context
Adhikari used the platform to contrast his government's approach with that of the previous Trinamool Congress administration, alleging that the state's image among investors had suffered due to syndicate practices and demands for cut money. His remarks reflect the broader competition among Indian states to court capital for manufacturing, healthcare and defence supply chains.
The announcement comes at a politically sensitive moment, with land allotments and visible investment announcements scheduled to precede Durga Puja — the largest cultural festival in Bengal and a period when political leaders often seek to showcase development wins.
While the chief minister named specific engagements with marquee corporate groups, details such as investment quantum, timelines, formal memoranda of understanding or employment projections were not disclosed in his remarks. The state administration will need to follow up with formal agreements and clearances if these projects are to move beyond the announcement stage.
What to watch next
- Outcome of Adhikari’s planned meetings in Mumbai with Mukesh and Anant Ambani.
- Formal announcements or MoUs ahead of Durga Puja regarding the 33 land allotments.
- Clarification from DRDO and the Adani group on project timelines and land allotment specifics.
As Bengal seeks to reclaim attention from industry, the coming weeks — including the Adani visit on September 24 and the planned Mumbai meetings — will test how quickly announcements translate into legally binding investments and ground-level activity across the state's industrial corridors.
— Arindam Das, West Bengal Correspondent
