Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that the state government would float an expression of interest (EoI) seeking applications from global agencies to set up a deep-sea port in East Midnapore’s Tajpur, which, according to her, would boost the economy of the region and generate about 25,000 jobs.

“The state government would float an EoI on Monday seeking applications from agencies across the globe to set up the deep-sea port in Tajpur. This will be the state’s own project and a sum of Rs 4,200 crore would be invested to develop the deep-sea port,” said the chief minister at Nabanna.

However, a key question stayed unanswered. Though Mamata announced the government’s decision of going it alone in developing the port, senior government officials did not make it clear whether the state has come out of the MoU signed between the Centre and the state, where the Centre holds 74 per cent stake, to develop the port.

A senior official said the state government repeatedly expressed displeasure over the pace the Centre was carrying out pre-feasibility study before floating the tenders to develop the port. “But I am not aware if the state has officially communicated to the Centre of its decision to set up the port on its own,” the official said.

Mamata said that a total of Rs 15,000 crore would be invested in the entire project altogether once the deep-sea port comes up. “A total of Rs 15,000 crore would be invested in the entire project which would generate 25,000 jobs. No land acquisition would be needed for the project,” she said.

The chief minister said that if the project comes up, it would change the economic landscape of the entire region.

“The state’s contribution to export of iron and steel would increase from existing 13 per cent.

The deep-sea port would increase investment in the steel manufacturing sector in West Midnapore-East Midnapore districts. Moreover, export of seafood from East Midnapore to Japan and Southeast Asia would also increase,” she said.

Singur plan

Mamata also said her government would set up an industrial park in Singur over an 11-acre plot where agro-related industry units could come up.

“The West Bengal Small Industrial Development Corporation has the plot located near the railway station and trauma care centre. Investors would get plots ideal for agro-related industries,” she said.

Mamata said 38 acres would be allotted for a unit that manufactures films needed for food packaging at the Panagarh industrial park.

She said land was available with Hidco for IT units at the Silicon Valley in New Town.