In her last Union Budget presentation before the 2026 Bengal Assembly elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Sunday made a slew of announcements for the ‘Purvodaya’ (eastern) region and West Bengal in particular. Although Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was quick to dismiss the 2026-27 Union Budget as a “Humpty Dumpty Budget”, experts pointed out that the Budget lays a blueprint that could fundamentally alter Bengal’s industrial and social landscape. Here’s a quick look at Bengal’s gains in the latest Union Budget.
Logistics
Bengal gets the East-West Dedicated Freight Corridor, connecting Dankuni to Surat. For a state that has long struggled with the ‘flight of capital’, this corridor could prove to be a massive industrial anchor. With the slashing of the cost and time of moving goods between the textile hubs of Gujarat and the East, Dankuni is most likely to become a logistical powerhouse. Moreover, by announcing an East Coast Industrial Corridor with a major node at Durgapur, the Union Budget signals a shift back toward heavy industry and manufacturing.
Speed and connectivity
In a move that surprised many, the finance minister announced seven high-speed rail corridors, including one connecting Varanasi to Siliguri. This isn’t just about luxury travel; it’s about pulling North Bengal out of its perceived isolation.
Connecting the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor to the national high-speed grid via Delhi and Varanasi could be a game-changer for tea, tourism, and trade in the hills and the Dooars.
Reviving the jute sector
Bengal’s soul lies in its heritage industries, particularly jute. The new National Fibre Scheme specifically targets the promotion of jute, aiming to modernise traditional clusters. For the thousands of mill workers along the Hooghly, this is more than just economics; it’s a lifeline. The government also plans to revive 200 legacy industrial clusters, a move where West Bengal, once the industrial heart of India, stands to be a primary beneficiary.
Kolkata: The hub for health and science
With Kolkata designated as one of the five Regional Medical Tourism Hubs, the city’s private and public healthcare sectors are set for a major influx of international patients from Southeast Asia and Bangladesh.
The upgradation of NIPER Panihati and the announcement of a girls’ hostel in every district with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) will boost Bengal’s education. Kolkata, already a research giant, will likely lead this charge.
Green mobility and tourism
The allocation of 4,000 E-Buses for Eastern India and the development of five major tourism destinations under the Purvodaya plan will modernise Bengal’s urban and rural transit.