Latest news with #NorthBengalBusinessMeet
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Siliguri to get international convention centre, IT & industrial parks: Mamata
Kolkata: Siliguri would soon get an international convention centre, the third in the state after Kolkata and Digha, and land had been identified for the same, CM Mamata Banerjee said on Monday. The state was also setting up an IT park and four industrial parks in north Bengal, Banerjee said during an interaction at the North Bengal Business Meet in Siliguri. The CM instructed Goutam Deb, the mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, to prepare a plan to expand the Siliguri city area. Banerjee said the convention centre was planned considering the importance of Siliguri as a regional business hub. She said a core group, to be chaired by chief secretary Manoj Pant, would be established for development of the proposed centre. Banerjee asked Ambuja Neotia Group chairman Harsh Neotia, Luxmi Group MD Rudra Chatterjee and Techno India chairman Satyam Roychowdhury, who were present at the business meet, to be part of the group. "We have identified 10 acres of land for the project. Goutam Deb has helped us in identifying the land, which is near Uttarayan. There was land near Bagdogra airport as well, but that is a 4-acre plot. It might not be sufficient," the CM said. The Siliguri convention centre would have a hotel as well, like those in Kolkata and Digha, she added. Banerjee inaugurated the Webel IT park in north Bengal, which would attract an investment of Rs 100 crore. This would be an AI-enabled data centre cluster, the first of its kind in north Bengal. She also inaugurated four industrial parks for MSMEs in different parts of north Bengal. The West Bengal Small Industries Development Corporation would implement these parks at an investment of Rs 80 crore. The total area would be 123.8 acres and these parks would employ more than 5,000 people. The CM inaugurated a skywalk at Jalpesh Shiva Temple in Jalpaiguri, the third skywalk in a temple in the state after Dakshineswar and Kalighat. She also announced six Volvo bus services from six north Bengal districts to Digha for those who wanted to visit the Jagannath temple. Banerjee directed municipalities to stop excessive charges collected under the guise of trade licences. State power minister Aroop Biswas said the power demand in north Bengal had gone up from 840 MW in 2011 to 3,500 MW now, which was testimony to the region's development. Naresh Agarwal, vice-president of Credai West Bengal, later said Darjeeling district would see construction of 15 hotels worth Rs 1,175 crore. He added that Rs 9,000 crore would be invested in different industrial parks in north Bengal. CM for 5-star hotel near Bagdogra airport CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday proposed the setting up of a five-star hotel near Bagdogra airport. There was a 4-acre land which could be used for the purpose as there was no good hotel near the airport, she said. Currently, 36 pairs of flights operate daily from Bagdogra.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mamata begins 3-day visit to north Bengal today
1 2 Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee will be in north Bengal for a three-day visit starting Monday, with a packed schedule that includes an investment summit , a public welfare programme and a high-level administrative review meeting. From Bagdogra airport, Banerjee will proceed directly to Dinabandhu Mancha in Siliguri, where she will inaugurate North Bengal Business Meet — an event hosted by the state govt aimed at attracting investment in key sectors such as MSMEs, tea and tourism. "The business meet is expected to see participation from leading industrialists and regional entrepreneurs. Banerjee is likely to highlight north Bengal's economic potential and call for collaborative efforts to generate employment and boost local industries," a senior party functionary said. After the event, Banerjee will go to Uttarkanya, where she will stay the night. On Tuesday, the CM will travel to Dabgram-Fulbari for a state-sponsored public welfare distribution programme for beneficiaries from Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts. On Wednesday, she will chair a high-level administrative review meeting at Uttarkanya that will be attended by senior officials from all eight north Bengal districts. The agenda includes assessing developmental progress, evaluating inter-departmental coordination, reviewing law and order situations, and potentially addressing security concerns linked to international border tensions. "The CM has always been talking about far-reaching ideas for development of the tourism industry in north Bengal. An outline of the new approaches govt is going to take will be discussed," an official said. Since Trinamool is yet to announce the Darjeeling Plains district president, sources said Banerjee would move the process forward after holding talks with local party functionaries. Banerjee's visit is aimed at reinforcing state govt's presence and control while listening to local concerns as Trinamool gears up for the 2026 assembly elections, sources said. The CM is scheduled to return to Kolkata on Thursday morning.
