West Bengal set to welcome Heavy Industry after 50 Years, says State Minister Arjun Singh at CII Logistics Colloquium 2026

Single-Window Logistics Clearance Mechanism Coming Soon in West Bengal

KOLKATA : The newly-elected Government of West Bengal will provide all opportunities to attract investment for industries with a strong emphasis on heavy industries after decades, said Shri Arjun Singh, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Departments of Labour and Transport, Government of West Bengal, at the Logistics Colloquium 2026 organised by CII Eastern Region in Kolkata on Friday, 19th June at Hyatt Regency Hotel.

“One of the key challenges we have witnessed over the years is the large-scale migration of the labour force from West Bengal, mainly due to the absence of significant heavy industrial development in the State,” said the State Labour and Transport Minister.

He further stated, “We have to improve the ease of doing business and support the logistics ecosystem. We will soon introduce a Single-Window Logistics Clearance Mechanism, along with a comprehensive and visionary roadmap for West Bengal’s transport sector. This will be unveiled within the next three months.”

Speaking on the growth trajectory of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Mr Rathendra Raman, IRTS, Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, stated that the port currently has a cargo handling capacity of 93 million metric tonnes (MMT), which is targeted to increase to 120 MMT over the next three to four years. He highlighted that the port is undertaking 15 infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 6,000 crore, of which two projects have already been completed.

Mr Raman further informed that the Netaji Subhas Dock at Kolkata Dock System has attracted an investment of Rs 1,500 crore from JSW Infrastructure, highlighting growing investor confidence in the port’s development and modernisation initiatives.

Speaking at the gathering, Mr Jayant Singh, IRTS, Chairman, Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighted the importance of mutually beneficial trade with India’s neighbouring countries. Emphasising the growing role of border trade in regional economic development, he spoke about the need for establishing Frontier Economic Zones to unlock new opportunities for commerce and cross-border collaboration.

Mr Singh also opined that technology would serve as a key enabler in these zones, facilitating the seamless movement of goods, enhancing trade efficiency, and strengthening connectivity across international borders.

Mr Indrajit Mookerjee, Vice Chairman & Executive Director, Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd., highlighted challenges in land acquisition due to regulatory delays and high population density. He also noted the need to further strengthen skill development initiatives in West Bengal to better align with evolving industry requirements.

“AI in logistics will reduce cost and ensure safety” said Mr Subrat Tripathy, President – Business Development, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. He advocated for port-led development as a key driver of economic growth, while highlighting critical challenges in the logistics sector, including over-dependence on road transport, underutilisation of inland waterways, and a significant skill gap in the workforce.

“Efficient logistics cost will considerably reduce the manufacturing cost and faster cargo movement will attract more investment,” said Mr Prithish Chowdhary, Vice Chairman, CII West Bengal State Council & Deputy Managing Director, Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd.

Taking the discussion further, Mr Dinesh Shastri, Managing Director, TM International Logistics, said, “Technology is with us, and demand is also strong, however, challenges remain in first and last-mile connectivity.” He further emphasised the importance of inland waterways in complementing road and rail transport to build a more efficient and integrated logistics ecosystem.

Mr Rupak Barua, Chairman, CII West Bengal State Council and Managing Director, Woodlands Hospital, pointed out that Kolkata has the highest vehicle density among all metropolitan cities.

Speaking at the event, Mr Debashis Dutta, Chairman, CII Eastern Region Infrastructure & Logistics Sub-Committee and Director, BGS Group, stated that logistics is the backbone of all industries and emphasised the growing importance of data-driven supply chains. He highlighted key national initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti, Bharatmala, and Sagarmala, and advocated for the development of an integrated supply chain ecosystem to drive the future growth of the logistics sector.

Notably, a status paper titled “Manufacturing Readiness in West Bengal,” prepared by CII West Bengal, was also unveiled during the inaugural plenary.

The colloquium also featured a recognition of the excellence ceremony – CII LogiXcellence 2026. The initiative witnessed participation from over 200 key stakeholders representing the industry, government, and allied sectors.