Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, announced on Thursday that the conglomerate plans to invest over ₹1 lakh crore in West Bengal by 2035. This declaration was made during a ceremony for a new 2,000-bed hospital in New Town, near Kolkata, attended by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The hospital, named 'Adani Arogya Mandir', represents a ₹4,000 crore investment and is expected to generate 10,000 jobs. Half of its beds will be dedicated to economically weaker sections, benefiting from state and central health insurance schemes. The facility will also include a medical college and research infrastructure.
Adani outlined a broad investment strategy for West Bengal, encompassing ports, logistics, power generation, power transmission and distribution, roads, bridges, ropeways, green cement, and hyperscale data centers. Notably, this marks the first formal mention of the Adani Group's interest in entering the power distribution sector in Kolkata and Howrah, areas currently dominated by the R. P. Sanjiv Goenka Group's CESC Ltd.
Currently, CESC Ltd is the sole power supplier to these twin cities, while other regions, including Salt Lake and New Town, are served by the state-owned WBSEDCL. Adani's entry could potentially reshape the power distribution landscape in these urban areas.
Explaining the rationale behind the infrastructure investments, Adani emphasized the interconnected nature of ports, logistics, industry, manufacturing, and energy, stating that this chain ultimately leads to job creation. He described West Bengal as a natural maritime and logistics bridge to Northeast India and Southeast Asia, with the potential to become a major industrial and economic hub in Asia.
In addition to these plans, Adani announced support for cultural and historical projects, including the restoration of the Writers' Building, revitalization of Kumartuli Ghat, and initiatives to promote Kolkata's Durga Puja globally.
Adani expressed a personal connection to the region, referring to West Bengal as a potential 'karmabhoomi', or land of work, similar to the group's first such site, Mundra Port in Gujarat. Earlier in the day, he visited the Kalighat Temple, seeking strength and energy for the group's ambitious plans.
Adani concluded by asserting that West Bengal's progress would contribute significantly to India's overall momentum, highlighting the strategic importance of the state's development.
