West Bengal to develop three dedicated industrial corridors

Three dedicated industrial corridors in Bengal will be created to reap the benefits of the Centre’s Amritsar-Dankuni freight corridor, which aims to boost trade and commerce between the eastern and northern parts of the country. “We will set up three dedicated industrial corridors — Dankuni-Haldia, Dankuni-Kalyani and Dankuni-Raghunathpur — to boost industrial activity in the state… We are now focusing on industrialisation and creation of jobs after ensuring social security schemes,” said chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
The eastern freight corridor project — also referred to as Amritsar-Dankuni freight corridor — had been initiated in 2006 and was expected to be completed by 2021. “But because of the pandemic, the project was delayed. It is expected that the freight corridor is likely to be functional by the later half of 2022,” said a source.
Sources at Nabanna said the three industrial corridors once made operational would draw investment to several sectors.
“Once the work on the freight corridor is completed, Dankuni will assume the role of a major land port in the state. As there is not enough land in and around Dankuni to set up large industries, connecting areas that have land with dedicated corridors will surely help in drawing investments,” said a senior government official.
According to sources, several industrial parks have already been set up in Raghunathpur in Purulia and Kalyani in Nadia. As land is available in those two areas, the government can easily provide plots to the industrialists.