The proposed Vedanta West Bengal investment could bring ₹70,000-80,000 crore into power generation and an aluminium smelter, with Asansol emerging as a possible location and up to 10,000 direct jobs projected by the State government.
Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal said on October 28 that the company was examining the feasibility of setting up the projects in West Bengal. The proposal was discussed after Agarwal met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna, the State secretariat.
The proposed investment is not yet a final project commitment. Agarwal said the group would assess the viability of the facilities in consultation with the State government. He indicated that work could begin within the next three years if the plans proceed as proposed.
Asansol, in Paschim Bardhaman district, is being considered because Vedanta already has land in the area. The company also sees the region’s existing infrastructure and coal availability as potential advantages for industrial operations. Access to water and timely regulatory clearances will be among the factors determining whether the projects can move forward.
The proposed aluminium operation would require alumina, the key raw material used in aluminium production. Agarwal said this could be transported from Vedanta’s operations in Odisha, including Jharsuguda. Existing railway connectivity could support the movement of materials between the company’s Odisha operations and the possible project site in West Bengal.
Agarwal said the combined investment in power and aluminium could reach ₹70,000-80,000 crore and create thousands of jobs in the State. Adhikari later said the company chairman had given an assurance that the projects could generate up to 10,000 direct jobs.
The Chief Minister said Agarwal had submitted a specific proposal for setting up a unit in Asansol and described the meeting as productive. Adhikari added that the State government would provide cooperation to facilitate the proposed investment.
The proposal places several implementation requirements at the centre of the next stage: establishing project feasibility, securing adequate coal and water supplies, arranging raw-material logistics, obtaining statutory clearances and determining the final site. The State government and Vedanta are expected to examine these options before any construction timeline is confirmed.
