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Industry bodies and business leaders have welcomed the West Bengal government's first full budget, citing proposals related to land reforms, infrastructure development, industrial incentives and emerging technology sectors as measures that could improve the state's investment climate. Key announcements include a review of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, a proposed deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabarh, a greenfield airport near Kalyani, logistics infrastructure projects and incentives for sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, defence manufacturing and renewable energy. Industry representatives said the measures address longstanding concerns relating to land availability, project execution and business facilitation, while creating opportunities for manufacturing, logistics, real estate and technology-led investments across the state.
Industry chambers and business leaders have welcomed the West Bengal government's first full budget, highlighting proposals related to land reforms, industrial incentives, infrastructure creation and technology-led growth as important steps towards improving the state's business environment and attracting fresh investments.
The budget, presented by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, includes a review of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (ULCRA), alongside proposals for a deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabarh, a greenfield airport near Kalyani, logistics infrastructure projects and initiatives targeting sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, defence manufacturing and renewable energy.
Business organisations identified the proposed review of ULCRA as one of the most significant announcements from an investment and real estate perspective. Industry representatives noted that the legislation has long been viewed as a constraint on land aggregation and large-scale development projects.
Anant Saharia, President of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce, said the budget addressed several longstanding concerns of investors. He stated that the proposed INR 5,000 crore industrial incentive package and the planned review of the ULCRA framework directly responded to issues relating to investment support and productive land utilisation. He further noted that the emphasis on industrial incentives, infrastructure development, renewable energy and business facilitation could support manufacturing growth and strengthen investor confidence.
The Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) described the budget as a roadmap for broad-based development and welcomed proposals for a logistics hub, clusters for traditional industries such as jute and tea, an information technology hub, a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Durgapur and a startup policy. The chamber also supported the government's proposal to enact legislation aimed at eliminating the syndicate system and addressing bottlenecks affecting project implementation and land acquisition.
The Bharat Chamber of Commerce termed the proposed review of the Urban Land Ceiling Act a major reform initiative. Its President, Naresh Pachisia, stated that the law had acted as an impediment to institutional investments and urban development. He added that re-examining the framework could increase the availability of developable land and improve investment prospects across urban areas. The chamber also welcomed plans to accelerate digitisation of land records and improve ownership transparency.
Industry stakeholders further highlighted infrastructure proposals, including the planned 1,000-acre greenfield airport at Kalyani, the proposed deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabarh and metro expansion surveys in Durgapur, Asansol and Siliguri. According to business representatives, these projects could improve logistics efficiency and strengthen regional connectivity.
Support was also expressed for initiatives focused on emerging sectors. Industry leaders welcomed the proposed West Bengal Impact AI Mission, incentives for artificial intelligence-oriented data centres and the planned semiconductor unit in Durgapur, viewing them as measures that could strengthen the state's position in advanced manufacturing and technology value chains.
Real estate stakeholders also responded positively to the proposed land-related reforms. Namit Bajoria, Managing Director of Kutchina Home Makers Pvt Ltd, said that measures facilitating land aggregation and reforms to the existing urban land framework could create opportunities for integrated developments, townships and commercial projects.
Several industry bodies, including ASSOCHAM Eastern Region, also backed the government's infrastructure-led development strategy, stating that improved connectivity and industrial infrastructure could support investment inflows, employment generation and economic growth across West Bengal.
Source - PTI
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