IIT-Kharagpur, WB govt devise growth plan for satellite business hubs

DURGAPUR: The West Bengal government and IIT-Kharagpur have prepared a long-term growth plan for satellite business hubs in the state like Durgapur, Asansol, Haldia, Kharagpur and Siliguri. The plan will recommend measures for controlled development and land usage at these locations.

This was announced by state chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Wednesday. He was speaking here shortly after inaugurating a shopping mall, `Suhatta’, which has ben developed by the Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) at an investment of Rs 10.78 crore.

“The growth plan prepared by IIT-Kharagpur will provide basic guidelines for development of key locations in the state till 2025. At this stage, there is a need for a long-term vision document which will take into account the growth process in the state for the next 20 years. The growth plan will achieve that,” Mr Bhattacharjee said.

Speaking at the proceedings, state urban development minister Ashok Bhattacharya said the state government wishes to ensure planned growth in key satellite locations in the state. “There’s a huge thrust in developing various areas in these cities,”he added.