Shopping malls to be set up in 3 districts by state government
The Statesman | 1 February 2026
To help several thousand women associated with self help groups (SHGs) producing handicrafts and other goods become self-reliant, the state government has taken the initiative to set up special marketing hubs or shopping malls in selected districts across the state.
The West Bengal Small Industries Development Corporation (WBSIDC) is tying up with private companies to establish these shopping malls under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
It has already been decided that one such mall will come up in Asansol in West Burdwan, Burdwan town in East Burdwan, and Bishnupur — the terracotta town — in Bankura district, sources said.
In this regard, WBSIDC has already invited tenders under the request for proposal (RFP) process from private sector participants. The state believes that setting up a shopping mall in the temple town of Bishnupur will further boost tourism in the region. The projects are the brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Land will not be an issue in setting up these shopping mall projects, sources added.
These malls will support the marketing and sale of products made by women engaged in cottage and small-scale industries, as well as local handicraft artisans. The goal is to create a structured marketplace where rural women can sell their products more easily and at fair prices.
According to sources, the malls will function as modern marketing hubs with facilities similar to organised retail, including display arrangements, storage and customer amenities. The focus will be on promoting products made by women from SHGs and cottage industries in rural areas.
Land has already been identified, and around 19 acres will be allotted through a government agency on a long-term lease basis. Depending on plot size — such as 0.25 acre, 0.5 acre, one acre or more — a fixed security deposit will be required. Infrastructure such as parking, access roads, CCTV surveillance, separate sanitation facilities for men and women, and modern fire safety systems will be included.
Officials said the main objective of the project is to ensure proper marketing support for local artisans and women producers so they can sell directly without depending entirely on middlemen. Producers will be able to bring their goods and sell them through shops inside the mall.