West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday pitched an ambitious development roadmap for his state at the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog. He asserted that West Bengal is ready for a “new era of double-engine growth, development and transparent governance” with the full support of the Central government.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, chief ministers and senior policymakers in New Delhi, Adhikari outlined a vision centred on economic revival, infrastructure expansion, industrial growth and youth empowerment, while stressing that closer cooperation between the Centre and the state was crucial for unlocking West Bengal’s development potential.
”West Bengal is ready for a new era of double-engine growth, development and transparent governance with the full support of the Central government,” Adhikari said, adding that a stable and transparent governance framework would help attract large-scale investments and create employment opportunities for the state’s youth.
A significant portion of his address focused on North Bengal, which he described as a region deserving renewed developmental attention and greater integration with national growth initiatives. He called for restoring the region’s “rightful rights, pride and developmental focus” through stronger alignment with central welfare and infrastructure programmes.
As part of the proposed roadmap, Adhikari advocated transforming Siliguri into a major educational hub capable of serving students from North Bengal and neighbouring regions. He said the city’s strategic location made it an ideal destination for higher education and skill development initiatives.
Seeking enhanced central support for the region, the Chief Minister formally proposed the establishment of premier institutions such as an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in North Bengal. He argued that the institutions would strengthen healthcare and educational infrastructure while generating fresh opportunities for students and professionals.
Highlighting infrastructure development as a key driver of economic growth, Adhikari announced West Bengal’s decision to join and actively participate in the Centre’s Sagarmala 2 programme. He said the port-led development initiative would improve logistics, boost connectivity and enhance the state’s competitiveness by creating modern infrastructure networks.
The Chief Minister also pledged to accelerate the implementation of major central welfare schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana, to ensure that benefits reach all eligible citizens across the state.
”We are committed to expediting and successfully implementing pending central flagship schemes so that every consumer and beneficiary receives the intended benefits,” he said.
Adhikari emphasised that cooperative federalism and transparent governance were essential for attracting heavy industrial investment and fostering sustainable economic growth. According to him, stronger Centre-state coordination would create a more predictable business environment and facilitate the expansion of industries across West Bengal.
His remarks marked a notable departure from the tone of previous engagements between West Bengal and the Centre at NITI Aayog meetings, which had often been characterised by political friction and occasional boycotts under the erstwhile state administration. In contrast, Adhikari projected a message of partnership and collaboration, placing development and governance at the forefront.
The NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, brought together chief ministers, lieutenant governors and senior policymakers from across the country to discuss strategies for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Against this backdrop, Adhikari’s proposals sought to position West Bengal as an active stakeholder in India’s long-term growth story, with particular emphasis on regional development, institutional expansion, infrastructure modernisation and effective welfare delivery.