The West Bengal government has initiated fresh efforts to revive industrial activity in Singur, a region that has remained without significant agriculture or industry for the past 15 years. State Industry and Commerce Minister Tapas Roy announced that the government has resumed contact with the Tata Group to explore possibilities of industrialisation in the area.
Roy expressed concern over Singur’s prolonged stagnation. “In the last 15 years, there has been neither industry nor agriculture in Singur. We are thinking about Singur very seriously. We are in touch with the Tatas so that they can be brought back to the state. Not only the automobile sector, the Tata Group has multiple industrial verticals, and we will explore all possible avenues,” he said.
In October 2008, Tata Group withdrew its small car manufacturing project from Singur due to prolonged protests, spearheaded by the then firebrand opposition leader Mamata Banerjee, over Left Front government’s land acquisition policy.
The minister also took aim at the previous state administration, alleging that past developments in Singur were carried out through coercion. He further criticised the lack of groundwork left behind, stating that the current government inherited no land bank, industrial policy framework, or institutional mechanisms such as agencies for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
“We had to build everything from scratch,” Roy remarked, adding that infrastructural readiness is essential for leveraging large-scale industrial schemes.
Highlighting ongoing initiatives, Roy outlined the state’s participation in the Centre’s Bharat Udyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) scheme. Following the momentum of Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI Scheme) programmes, the Union government has allocated Rs 33,660 crore under BHAVYA to boost infrastructure and industrial development nationwide. The scheme is designed to be implemented through partnerships between state governments and private investors.
Roy noted that while the Centre had initially set deadlines in July and August for proposal submissions, these were later extended to September. The West Bengal government, however, plans to submit its proposals within August.
Under the scheme, land parcels have been identified for development, including 118.5 acres in Dhubulia in Nadia district and 193.29 acres in the Dhakeshwari area of Asansol. Of this, 148.61 acres have been earmarked under the BHAVYA initiative. The minister confirmed that detailed project proposals for these sites are being prepared and will soon be sent to the Centre.
The renewed push signals the state government’s intent to reposition West Bengal as an industrial hub, with Singur once again at the center of its strategy.
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