North Bengal: On a growth trail
The state government is doing all it can to reshape the Siliguri-Jalpaiguri belt into an industrial hub.
By Kalyan Moitra, TNN |
West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has good news to share with his prospective Indian and foreign investors: 'It's ready - come to Siliguri to set up new industries and business. There will be no scarcity of land and power.'
The CM and his colleagues are all set to showcase Siliguri-Jalpaiguri region as one of the most favoured investment destinations in the east - its strategic location being the advantage. They are likely to convince investors that the state government would favour direct purchase of agricultural land for industry in north Bengal districts.
While brand Buddah's Bengal is on a trajectory of industrial growth, Siliguri and Jalpaiguri constitute the core areas of this steady economic growth process. The government expects that within a couple of years, investments in Siliguri would touch the magic figure of Rs 10,000 crore in sectors like IT, housing and real estate, hospitality management, education, food processing, food parks and manufacturing.
In a bid to rope in investors and also to showcase Siliguri-Jalpaiguri region, the CM has encouraged urban development minister Ashok Bhattacharjee to organise a CII meet there in mid-July. The CM would inaugurate this meet and exchange views with the important business conglomerates of
the country.
Consumer electronics major Videocon Industries Ltd has already stepped into Siliguri with a major plan of setting up an electronics good unit in the city manufacturing television sets, computers, microwaves and other gadgets. Videocon group chairman V N Dhoot had triggered chief minister's aspirations of turning this state into a major industry centre of the nation.
Siliguri is strategically connected to Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, China and Bangladesh. The importance of this location gained more significance after the East-West Corridor of the golden quadrilateral was joined at Nathu La pass in Sikkim. This development opened up immense economic potential for the entire area.
Infrastructure and social development are now being given top priority by the Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) in order to woo investors. An excellent climate, availability of cheap manpower and geo-strategic location are the plus points for this area. Siliguri is the second largest urban area in the state after Kolkata. Out of its total area, 20 per cent is under the forests, while SJDA corresponds to about 43 per cent.
Among other projects, an IT park, spread over an area of 27 acres, is also being set up in JV (WBIDC and SJDA) in Siliguri. Software Technology Parks of India is also setting up an earth station in Siliguri. A number of BPOs and KPOs have already set up their base here. Moreover, various private companies have set up high-tech green houses for floriculture. SJDA is developing a perishable cargo complex at the Bagdogra airport. A tea park is being developed with the Tea Board and WBIDC and SJDA near NJP railway station.
Videocon Realty and Infrastructures Ltd is also setting up some major projects like Agri-BioTech and an IT-hardware zone in Siliguri. SJDA is setting up a light engineering park, called Shilpangan, with WBIDC's help.
The CM and his colleagues are all set to showcase Siliguri-Jalpaiguri region as one of the most favoured investment destinations in the east - its strategic location being the advantage. They are likely to convince investors that the state government would favour direct purchase of agricultural land for industry in north Bengal districts.
While brand Buddah's Bengal is on a trajectory of industrial growth, Siliguri and Jalpaiguri constitute the core areas of this steady economic growth process. The government expects that within a couple of years, investments in Siliguri would touch the magic figure of Rs 10,000 crore in sectors like IT, housing and real estate, hospitality management, education, food processing, food parks and manufacturing.
In a bid to rope in investors and also to showcase Siliguri-Jalpaiguri region, the CM has encouraged urban development minister Ashok Bhattacharjee to organise a CII meet there in mid-July. The CM would inaugurate this meet and exchange views with the important business conglomerates of
the country.
Consumer electronics major Videocon Industries Ltd has already stepped into Siliguri with a major plan of setting up an electronics good unit in the city manufacturing television sets, computers, microwaves and other gadgets. Videocon group chairman V N Dhoot had triggered chief minister's aspirations of turning this state into a major industry centre of the nation.
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According to Bhattacharjee, Videocon plans to start with a production capacity of about one lakh units at the new factory. Additionally Videocon, which had bought the Philips India factory at Salt Lake in Kolkata for Rs 9 crore in 1999, had last year announced setting up of a Rs 200-crore IT park project on the excess land there.Siliguri is strategically connected to Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, China and Bangladesh. The importance of this location gained more significance after the East-West Corridor of the golden quadrilateral was joined at Nathu La pass in Sikkim. This development opened up immense economic potential for the entire area.
Infrastructure and social development are now being given top priority by the Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) in order to woo investors. An excellent climate, availability of cheap manpower and geo-strategic location are the plus points for this area. Siliguri is the second largest urban area in the state after Kolkata. Out of its total area, 20 per cent is under the forests, while SJDA corresponds to about 43 per cent.
Among other projects, an IT park, spread over an area of 27 acres, is also being set up in JV (WBIDC and SJDA) in Siliguri. Software Technology Parks of India is also setting up an earth station in Siliguri. A number of BPOs and KPOs have already set up their base here. Moreover, various private companies have set up high-tech green houses for floriculture. SJDA is developing a perishable cargo complex at the Bagdogra airport. A tea park is being developed with the Tea Board and WBIDC and SJDA near NJP railway station.
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Besides, the SJDA is developing a new township on a 232-acres land along the Mahananda river with Bengal Unitech Universal Siliguri Projects Ltd following the PPP model. Another Rs 5000-crore township project, Uttorayan, undertaken by Luxmi Township Ltd is coming up over an area of 393 acres. This project is fast changing the fa��ade of the entire area.Videocon Realty and Infrastructures Ltd is also setting up some major projects like Agri-BioTech and an IT-hardware zone in Siliguri. SJDA is setting up a light engineering park, called Shilpangan, with WBIDC's help.
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