Hello, Tata: On BGBS eve, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's call sets ground for reunion
Times of India | 6 February 2025
KOLKATA: To bury the hatchet once and for all, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee called Tata Sons chairperson Natarajan Chandrasekharan on Tuesday, urging him to attend the 8th edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit that commenced on Wednesday at New Town Biswa Bangla Convention Centre.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the summit, Banerjee said, "I had a detailed discussion with Tata Sons chairperson Chandrasekharan Ji yesterday evening. He was very keen to come but had prior commitments. That's why he couldn't attend, but he has sent a large delegation, including the CEO. He assured me that they want to invest more in Bengal and said he will visit the state very soon."
Seventeen years ago, following a protest led by Banerjee against land acquisition for a Tata Motors facility in Singur, the company relocated the plant. At the time, the state was governed by CPM under the late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
After Ratan Tata's passing in Oct last year, Banerjee wrote a heartfelt post expressing her sorrow, describing him as "a foremost leader of Indian industries and a public-spirited philanthropist." She stated that his demise was "an irreparable loss for the Indian business world and society." On Wednesday, Banerjee mentioned that Chandrasekharan had promised to discuss future investment plans in detail when he visited Bengal. She also revealed making one "small request" to him during their phone conversation on Tuesday.
"I told him that while Bengal has immense business potential and serves as a gateway to Southeast Asia, there are no direct flights between Bengal and Europe. I asked him whether he could arrange one direct flight from Kolkata to Europe. He responded positively, saying he would try. He mentioned some aircraft-related issues but didn't decline outright. His response was very encouraging," Banerjee said. Notably, the last direct Air India flight-now owned by Tata Group-from Kolkata to London operated on 20 March 2022, cutting off the city's sole direct connection to Europe.
The flight, reintroduced during the pandemic after nearly 13 years, had an uncertain existence. Initially operating twice a week from Sept 2020, it was reduced to once the following month. In Dec 2020, the state govt suspended the service over concerns about Covid UK strain. It resumed in Aug 2021, only to be halted in Jan 2022 due to Omicron-fuelled third wave. Despite disruptions and a limited schedule, the flight recorded an 80% passenger load.
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