Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari declared on Monday (15 June) that Bengal stood at the cusp of an industrial revival, pledging a comprehensive industrial policy underpinned by a fresh land policy, a single-window clearance mechanism and investor incentives aimed at expanding job creation.
Speaking at Nandigram in East Midnapore while launching the state's Janakalyan Shibir, the chief minister said, "An industrialisation wave is coming. We are introducing our industrial policy by implementing a land policy, a single-window system, industry incentives and other measures in this state."
"Through greater industrialisation, we will create more employment opportunities delivered directly to your hands," he added.
The three-day Janakalyan Shibir, running from 15 to 17 June across the state, is designed to connect citizens with benefits offered under central and state welfare schemes.
According to a source, Adhikari hinted strongly that the upcoming industrial policy would form a centrepiece of the state budget, which finance minister Swapan Dasgupta is scheduled to present in the Assembly on 22 June.
Officials noted that Bengal has seen an industrial decline since the Tata Nano project exited Singur in Hooghly in 2008, with BJP leaders alleging the departure of over 6,000 industries in recent years.
Both Adhikari and state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya have committed to bringing the Tatas back.
A senior official traced the slowdown in heavy industry to land policies under the Mamata Banerjee government, which declined to acquire land and directed industrialists to buy it themselves, a hurdle for large projects lacking state backing.
The reintroduction of industrial incentives, scrapped by Mamata in 2025 for the first time since 1993, is also anticipated. "An announcement on industrial incentives is one of the major decisions expected in the next budget," The Telegraph quoted an official as saying.