Mamata Banerjee Hands Over Tajpur Port's Letter Of Intent To Karan Adani

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee handed over the letter of intent of the proposed Tajpur deep sea port to Adani Ports chief executive officer Karan Adani on Wednesday.

A request for proposal for development of the port on a model of design, build, operate and transfer was published by the state last year. The cabinet had approved the proposal in September for issuing a LoI to the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone for developing the state's first deep sea port, which is expected to see a total investment of Rs 25,000 crore.

'Following the technical and financial evaluation, and completion of all formalities, the government accorded approval for issuance of the LoI by the West Bengal Maritime Board to the successful bidder,' an official said.

The LoI was handed by Banerjee to Adani at a Bijaya Sammilani at Eco Park in New Town. Industry Minister Shashi Panja and Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi were among others who were present at the event.

'We're poised to build not just a port but a complete infrastructural ecosystem which will become a maritime gateway for the entire Eastern India,' Adani tweeted later.

Adani Group sources said the company would begin necessary action towards the project soon.

The greenfield port will usher in a new era of development in the state. It will create direct employment opportunities for 25,000 people and around 1-lakh indirect jobs, officials said.

'The project will entail an investment of Rs 15,000 crore. The port-related infrastructure development and government investment will involve another Rs 10,000 crore,' Dwivedi said at the event.

The port will provide quick access to international markets for Bengal-based industries. Eastern India and the Northeast will benefit from the dramatically-improved connectivity of the port through highways and integrated inland waterways, according to Dwivedi.

It will also be linked to the industrial and economic corridor that is being developed by the state from Dunkuni to Raghunathpur. Once functional, the port will improve regional logistics and export efficiency of the state and unlock huge industrial and economic opportunities, he said.

During the last business conclave in April, Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani had committed Rs 10,000 crore of investment over a decade.

The areas of investment include in port infrastructure, data centres, undersea cables, centres of excellence in digital innovation, fulfilment facilities, warehouses and logistics parks.

Disclaimer: Adani Enterprises is in the process of acquiring a 49% stake in Quintillion Business Media Ltd., the owner of BQ Prime.