Page 23 - West Bengal

World's largest curd plant coming to Kolkata as Amul invests Rs 600 crore

Amul is investing Rs 600 crore in Kolkata to set up the world's largest curd manufacturing plant, catering to Bengal's rising demand for dairy products and boosting India's dairy sector

WB emerged as 'powerhouse of growth, opportunity': Mamata after biz summit

A day after the eighth edition of her government's business summit concluded, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the state has emerged "as a powerhouse of growth and opportunity" as 1.72 crore people have been lifted out of poverty. The two-day Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2025 yielded 212 MoUs and Letters of Intent with investment proposals amounting to Rs 4,40,595 crore, she said. In a post on X, Banerjee said, "Yesterday, as I stood at the Bengal Global Business Summit, surrounded by policymakers, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and global visionaries, I saw a dream unfolding before my eyes. "1.72 crore people have been lifted out of poverty, and Bengal emerged as a powerhouse of growth and opportunity. I am proud to share that this year's BGBS has yielded 212 MoUs and Letters of Intent, with investment proposals totalling Rs 4,40,595 crore". The chief minister said that after assuming office in 2011, she vowed to steer Bengal towards a future of

Rapido proposes Rs 150 cr investment in mobility, infra segment in Bengal

Ride-sharing platform Rapido has proposed to invest Rs 150 crore in the mobility and infrastructure segment in West Bengal with majority of the investment expected to go into urban mobility, the company said on Thursday. Announcing the signing of an initial pact with the state's transport department to this effect, Rapido said as part of the partnership it will introduce a dedicated fleet of pink-coloured two-wheelers and four-wheelers, driven by women captains, ensuring a secure and comfortable experience for female passengers under its Pink Mobility Initiative, a programme designed to provide safe and reliable commuting options for women. Currently, executing 1 lakh rides per day across Bengal, Rapido's operations have become an integral part of daily commuting in the state, the company said. "As part of this collaboration, Rapido will invest Rs 150 crore towards key initiatives focused on electric mobility, women's safety in transportation, and road safety awareness. A significan

Bengal receives investment proposals worth Rs 4.4 trn: CM Mamata Banerjee

Banerjee said investment proposals worth Rs 4,40,595 crore had been received. "I am extremely happy," she said

Bengal got investment proposals worth Rs 4.40 trn in biz summit: Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said West Bengal received investment proposals valued at over Rs 4.40 lakh crore during the two-day business conclave this year, and asserted that the state remains a "prime destination" for investors. Addressing the concluding session of the summit, Banerjee revealed that a total of 212 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and letters of intent were signed across various sectors, reflecting the state's robust investment climate. "We have received investment proposals worth Rs 4, 40,595 crore during this event. This will create thousands of job opportunities in West Bengal," she said, highlighting the significance of the summit. Banerjee also credited her government's development efforts since 2011 for uplifting 1.72 crore people above the poverty line. "Our focus on infrastructure, industry, and social welfare has led to significant progress," she added. In the last edition of BGBS in 2023, investment proposals valued at Rs 3.76 lakh crore

Bengal Summit: CM Mamata unveils investment proposals of over Rs 90.51 trn

She also said that the Deucha-Pachami project would commence on Thursday with basalt mining

Sajjan Jindal-led JSW plans airport foray with Andal airport in West Bengal

The foray would be through JSW Infrastructure, which would be buying a stake from private investors in Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL)

Bengal Business Global Summit: Industrialists announce investment plans

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wooed investors to the "smartest" and "safest" state with promises galore. The investors, too, did not disappoint

Ambuja Neotia Group commits over Rs 15,000 cr in WB over next 5 years

Ambuja Neotia Group, a leading business conglomerate in East India, announced an investment of over Rs 15,000 crore in West Bengal over the next five years. The investments will span healthcare, hospitality, tourism, residential and commercial real estate, and a golf-themed township, group chairman Harshavardhan Neotia said while speaking at the 8th Bengal Global Business Summit inauguration here on Wednesday. Neotia expressed gratitude to the state government for fostering a "business-friendly environment." He highlighted West Bengal's strategic advantages, including its "skilled workforce, growing infrastructure, and proximity to Asian markets." He also acknowledged the "proactive governance and support from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee." Neotia said, "The group will invest Rs 1,500 crore in healthcare, setting up five new hospitals across the state, adding 1,300 beds." In hospitality and tourism, "Rs 2,700 crore will be invested to develop a luxury hospitality circuit with Ta

Reliance to invest Rs 50,000 crore in West Bengal by 2030: Mukesh Ambani

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani on Wednesday announced a fresh investment commitment of Rs 50,000 crore in West Bengal by the end of this decade. Speaking at the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2025, Ambani said the investment would generate one lakh jobs in the state. "Reliance has already invested Rs 50,000 crore in Bengal over the last decade. Rs 50,000 crore more will be invested by the end of this decade. Our investment will span over multiple sectors, including digital services, green energy, and retail," he said. Ambani reaffirmed Reliance's commitment to driving economic growth in the state, highlighting its role in transforming Bengal's business landscape.

CM Mamata meets representatives of FICCI, CII, biz tycoons ahead of BGBS

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended a meeting with representatives from FICCI, CII, and industry leaders on Wednesday, ahead of the 8th edition of the two-day Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), which begins this afternoon. The two-day summit, set to take place from February 5 in Kolkata, is a key event for promoting investment in the state. Banerjee shared on Facebook, "Our much-awaited Bengal Global Business Summit is having its preludes in the Special Meeting of the National Executive Committees of the Apex Chambers of Commerce and Industry, CII and FICCI. I joined them briefly to encourage investments in West Bengal from our national industry magnates. Bengal the destination!!." The chief minister on Tuesday night in a social media post had also mentioned that over 5,000 delegates, including representatives from 40 countries, have already started arriving in Kolkata. Additionally, 20 ambassadors and high commissioners are attending to represent their respectiv

'Nothing for Bengal' in Union Budget , says TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the Union Budget 2025-26 has "nothing" for West Bengal, alleging that the state continues to remain "deprived" under the BJP-led NDA rule at the Centre. Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, who was talking to reporters in Delhi after the budget presentation in Parliament, said several announcements were made for Bihar as the assembly elections there are due later this year. Bihar remained in focus in the presentation of the Union Budget for the 2025-26 fiscal with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman making several announcements for the state, including setting up of a makhana board, financial assistance for western Kosi canal and support for enhancing the capacity of IIT Patna. "There has been nothing for Bengal in the Union Budget. As in the past during the BJP's reign, there has not been enough allocation for the state in this budget. Our (TMC) MPs have been vocal and have sought a rise in the allocation

WB's professor's video of wedding in class goes viral, probe ordered

Viral videos of a senior female professor getting "married" to a student in the classroom at a state-run university in West Bengal triggered a furore, following which an inquiry was ordered on Wednesday, officials said. The professor, however, claimed that it was a drama that was part of her class. The incident happened at the Psychology Department of the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) at Haringhata in Nadia district, they said. The videos showed the professor, who was dressed like a bride, and a first-year student performing various rituals of a Hindu Bengali wedding, including 'sindoor daan' and 'mala bodol', in the classroom. As the videos went viral, triggering criticism and outrage, the varsity formed a three-member inquiry panel and sought clarification from the professor, officials said. The professor told the varsity authorities that it was a psycho-drama demonstration, which was part of her class, and not real, they said. The videos were taken

WB govt sanction to prosecute RG Kar's ex-principal received: CBI tells HC

The CBI on Tuesday informed the Calcutta High Court that it has received sanction from the West Bengal government to prosecute RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's former principal Sandip Ghosh in an alleged financial irregularities case. The single bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh directed the special court before which the matter is being heard to make all endeavour for framing of charges within one week from the next date of hearing before it. He directed the special court to take into account the list of the witnesses and accordingly fix the schedule, so that the trial of the case can be expedited and taken to its logical conclusion at the earliest. During the hearing, the CBI's counsel informed Justice Ghosh that the central agency, probing the alleged financial irregularities at the state-run hospital in Kolkata during the tenure of Sandip Ghosh, has received sanction from the state government for prosecution of him and another former official. A report was submitted before

Saif Ali Khan stabbing case: Mumbai police questions woman in West Bengal

A Mumbai Police team on Monday questioned a woman in West Bengal's Nadia district in connection with the January 16 attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, a source said. Police, however, clarified that no arrests were made in relation to the incident. Makwana Meetkumar Sanjaykumar, Additional Superintendent of Police (HQ) for Krishnanagar Police District, confirmed, "No arrests were made in Nadia related to the attack." An investigation into the attack on the actor revealed that the SIM card used by Bangladeshi national Shariful Fakir, arrested earlier in Mumbai for the assault, was registered in the name of a woman from West Bengal, police sources said. The woman denied knowing the accused and claimed that she had lost the mobile phone containing the SIM several years ago in Kolkata, they added. A two-member team of Mumbai Police, which arrived in West Bengal on Sunday, was looking for one Khukhumoni Jahangir Sheikh, under whose name the SIM card was registered. Investigators

RG Kar case: HC reserves judgement on admission of appeals by WB govt, CBI

The Calcutta High Court on Monday reserved its judgement on the admission of two separate appeals, one by the West Bengal government and the other by the CBI, challenging a trial court order which sentenced RG Kar hospital rape-murder convict Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment till death. The court's division bench, presided by Justice Debangsu Basak, heard both the state government and the CBI, who argued that the January 20 order of the Sealdah sessions court sentencing Roy, the sole convict in the crime, to life imprisonment till death was inadequate. Both the CBI and the state government separately prayed for capital punishment for the convict. The CBI claimed before the bench that only it has the right to move an appeal before the high court on grounds of inadequacy of sentence since it was the investigation and prosecution agency of the case. The state government argued that apart from the central agency, it too can move an appeal claiming inadequacy of sentence given by the tri

WB school jobs row: SC to hear pleas against invalidation of jobs on Monday

The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a batch of pleas challenging a Calcutta High Court verdict that has invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in government and aided schools in West Bengal. According to the cause list for the day uploaded on the apex court's website, a bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar is scheduled to hear the matter. On January 15, several petitioners argued that the high court verdict nullifying the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in government and aided schools in West Bengal has adversely impacted the lives and livelihoods of untainted candidates. The CJI acknowledged the arguments and reiterated the need for a balance between addressing illegalities and protecting untainted appointees. He said segregation of cases, wherever possible, may be prioritised to protect innocent candidates. A total of 124 petitions, including one filed by the state government, challenging the

R G Kar victim's parents being used by those who conspire against govt: TMC

Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Saturday alleged that the parents of the R G Kar hospital victim are being "used" by the forces which want to "defame, malign and plot conspiracy against the Mamata Banerjee government". His comment comes a day after the parents of the deceased doctor at the R G Kar hospital said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cannot disown the responsibility for the alleged attempt of the police and hospital authorities to destroy evidence of rape and murder of their daughter. They attempted to shield the main conspirators behind the crime, while the CBI failed to bring to book all the perpetrators and overlooked the larger conspiracy aspect, the parents claimed on Friday. Ghosh alleged, "The parents of the deceased doctor are being used by forces which want to defame, malign and plot conspiracy against the Mamata Banerjee government and derail the process to ensure justice for the woman medic. Please don't let yourself be used by any ...

RG Kar case: Legal experts back life sentence, oppose death penalty

Amid the raging debate over a Kolkata court sentencing R G Kar hospital rape-murder convict Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment till death, legal luminaries are unequivocal in their stand against awarding capital punishment to anyone. The Sealdah sessions court had on January 20 held Roy guilty of the rape and murder of an on-duty medic at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and sentenced him to life imprisonment till the end of his natural life. Holding that death penalty is undemocratic and irreversible, former Supreme Court judge Ashok Ganguly said such a punishment should, therefore, not be continued in a free, democratic country. Asserting that the demand for capital punishment to Roy is not just, he said in more than 150 countries across the world, there is no death penalty. He said that in Europe, there is no country where death penalty is allowed, and in America, too, there are various states where capital punishment is not awarded. "We always cry for death pena

Evidence destroyed, CM can't disown responsibility: RG Kar victim's parents

The parents of the R G Kar hospital victim have said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cannot disown the responsibility for the alleged attempt of the police and hospital authorities to destroy evidence of rape and murder of their daughter. They attempted to shield the main conspirators behind the crime, while the CBI failed to bring to book all the perpetrators and overlooked the larger conspiracy aspect, the parents claimed. The ruling Trinamool Congress has termed the allegations unfortunate. "Everyone - Kolkata Police, the hospital administration and people's representatives from the TMC - played an active role to hush up the ghastly incident so that truth does not come to light, the deceased medic's mother told a Bengali TV channel on Friday. The body of the 31-year-old post-graduate trainee was found in a semi-naked state in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 last year. The trial court on January 20 sentenced Sanjay Roy, the lone