Bengal nod to industry status for logistics sparks growth hope
Times of India | 19 September 2025Experts said that with adequate support, Bengal is poised to witness a boom in logistics as the state is ideally located to function as a hub from where goods can be conveniently dispatched to other parts of the country and even abroad by train, truck and container vessel.
Transport continues to dominate, but warehousing, third-party logistics and e-commerce-driven logistics are showing the fastest growth, according to industry players.
The Mamata Banerjee govt had mentioned in the West Bengal Logistics Policy 2023 that it would grant industry status to the logistics sector.
Logistics giants Flipkart and Amazon are heavily investing to develop infrastructure in the state. Flipkart has set up its largest warehouse in the country in Nadia's Haringhata, while a mega facility of Amazon is coming up in Hooghly.
Debashis Dutta, chairman of CII, West Bengal State Council, who is involved in the logistics trade for many decades, has welcomed the move.
Dutta, also director of BG Somadder & Sons, pointed out that the industry tag would make it easier for firms to access plots from the state land bank to set up world-class hubs. Other benefits include cheaper power and credit, which would bring down operational costs.
Merlin Group chairman Sushil Mohta, who is setting up a logistics park in the city, said Kolkata is the "feeding point" for goods coming from the rest of the country on their way to eastern and northeastern states and also neighbouring countries.
"Logistics business is very important here and has grown substantially. Encouraging the business will help generate a large number of blue and grey collar jobs, and also contribute hugely to the revenue," said Mohta, who is also president of CREDAI West Bengal.
Vishal Jhajharia, managing director of StarOm Group, a key logistics player, said logistics as a sector is vital for every industry. "The Bengal govt's move to classify it as an industry will lead to targeted growth in the sector," he said.
In another move that is expected to boost job creation, the state govt has decided to hand over 194 acres to WBIDC to develop the Tajpur-Dankuni-Raghunathpur industrial and economic corridor. The move will encourage private players to take up industrial projects along the corridor. Officals said the govt might offer incentives such as stamp duty reimbursement for units coming up along the corridor.
193.3 acres now freehold in Hirapur
The state cabinet on Thursday gave clearance to 193.3 acres of land to the industry department for freehold use from leasehold in the Hirapur area of Asansol. The sanction was given for three mouzas of land.
