Industry leaders across energy, infrastructure, FMCG and real estate have welcomed the West Bengal State Budget for FY 2026-27, calling it a “redefining moment” for the state’s economic ambitions with its focus on ease of doing business, infrastructure, and investment.
Presenting the budget on 22nd June, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta outlined measures including simpler industrial clearances, a credible land bank, a proposed anti-extortion law, and major infrastructure projects. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s government positioned the budget as a pivot toward growth and job creation.
Prashant Modi, Vice Chairman & MD of Great Eastern Energy Corporation Ltd, said the budget was “extremely encouraging” and noted the “real signal is on ease of doing business: simpler clearances, a credible land bank, and a proposed law against extortion.” He added there is “clear intent to restore Kolkata and its industrial belt as a hub of enterprise and capital,” and “if execution matches intent, Bengal could be entering its most promising economic phase in years.”
Echoing the sentiment, Mayank Jalan, Chairman of Keventer Group, called it a “welcome shift towards growth, investment and job creation.” He highlighted the emphasis on agriculture and food processing and said Keventer, with DP World, “remains keen to engage with the Government to explore investments” in the long-pending Kulpi Port project.
Deepak Goel, Chairman & MD of Laser Power & Infra, said the budget “lays a strong foundation for accelerating infrastructure-led growth and modernising the state’s power distribution ecosystem.” He pointed to the announcement of 15 new 33/11 KV substations and underground cabling across 12 towns, plus the single-window clearance mechanism, as steps that will “improve project execution timelines and create a more investment-friendly environment.” Goel also backed the state’s vision to attract AI-driven data centres, noting that “reliable, resilient and high-quality power infrastructure will be central” to that shift.
Mahesh Agarwal, MD of Purti Realty, said the budget “conveys a powerful and positive message to investors, the industry, and the real estate sector.” He welcomed the proposed Chingrighata–New Town elevated corridor, saying it will “strengthen attractiveness for investment, shorten travel time, and fast-track the next stage of commercial and residential growth.” The greenfield airport at Kalyani, he added, “could open a completely new growth corridor along the NH-12 route.” Agarwal also termed the review of the Urban Land Ceiling Act framework “another positive development” for planned urban growth.
Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, said what was “particularly encouraging” is that the budget “looks at growth as an ecosystem rather than a collection of individual initiatives.” He noted that investments in regional connectivity, education, healthcare, industrial development and employment “together have the potential to expand economic activity well beyond the traditional growth centres of the state.”
Industry captains unanimously stressed that execution will be key. As Prashant Modi put it, “for those of us who never stopped believing in this state’s potential, that is a genuinely redefining moment” — if intent translates to action.
