Adani, with CM by his side, promises Rs 1 lakh crore investment in Bengal

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Kolkata: Gautam Adani , chairman of Adani Group , with chief minister Suvendu Adhikari by his side, promised to invest around Rs 1 lakh crore in Bengal by 2035 across sectors ranging from ports and logistics to renewable energy, power and data centres. Adani called Bengal his “second karmabhoomi” in the country after Mundra port in Gujarat, which he called his “first karmabhoomi”.
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The industrialist was in the city on Thursday for the foundation stone-laying ceremony of his Rs 4,000-crore healthcare, research and medical education institution project, Adani Arogya Mandir , spread across 52 acres in New Town’s Bengal Silicon Valley. In the presence of the CM, Adani signed MoUs with state govt for two projects -- restoration of Writers’ Buildings and funding the city’s Durga pujas through Adani Puja Preview.

The CM said Bengal’s industrial development will be vital for accomplishment of PM Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat 2047. “The Adani Group is interested in making more investments in our state and we are assuring them of all help,” Adhikari said and sought the group’s cooperation for the proposed greenfield airport at Kalyani.

Praising Adhikari, Adani said, “You are a real Bhoomiputra – a son of the soil – from whom the people of this state have massive expectations for jobs, infrastructure, education, healthcare and opportunities.”

On the upcoming hospital project, Adani said the institution will generate over 10,000 jobs across the healthcare ecosystem of the state.

The Adani Arogya Mandir will be a not-for-profit medical institution with 2,000 beds, half of which will cater to patients from economically weaker sections who are eligible under state and central health insurance schemes.

“No state has such a facility. The final vision is not just a hospital in New Town but a fully integrated healthcare city that will give a boost to medical tourism,” CM said. The project, which will be completed in three years, will feature a medical college with an annual intake of 150 undergraduates, 100 postgraduates and 40 super-specialists, a nursing college and an institution for allied healthcare and paramedical education.

Later in the day, Adani discussed potential areas of investment with CM in a meeting at Soujanya in Alipore. “The CM discussed the latest status report on the proposed deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabar with Adani and his son Karan, also MD of Adani Ports,” sources said. The new govt had earlier announced the plan to develop a port at Dadanpatrabar, instead of Tajpur, in East Midnapur.

“The proposed power project at Santaldih also came up for discussion and Adhikari informed Adani about the state’s plans for a greenfield airport at Kalyani and a ring road around Kolkata,” the sources added.

This year, Adani Group has decided to showcase Kolkata’s Durga Puja to international and national delegates, for which it will conduct a ‘ Durga Puja Preview Tour ’ from Oct 10 to 12. Adani shared with the CM detailed plans of the initiative. including a grant of Rs 25 lakh each to eight Durga Puja committees in and around Kolkata.