Kolkata, Jun 22 (ANI): West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta presents the state's first full budget for FY 2026-27 in the assembly, in Kolkata on Monday. (ANI Photo)
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Presenting the first Budget of the new BJP government in West Bengal, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta on Monday proposed to support the revival of the 118-year-old Calcutta Stock Exchange, set up a greenfield airport near Kolkata, along with three new airports across the State, building a thermal power plant under PPP mode, and a budgetary allocation of ₹5,000 crore for incentivising fresh investment as the government wanted to rejuvenate industrial and infrastructure sectors and reinstate the Bengal’s position as a major economic hub in the country. Tabling the State Budget of over ₹4.38 lakh crore for FY27 in the West Bengal Assembly, Dasgupta proposed said, “The Calcutta Stock Exchange, an 118-year-old institution, is on the verge of closure due to several hurdles. The government proposes to support the revival of the Calcutta Stock Exchange.”Plans new airportDasgupta said Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is facing significant passenger congestion, and there is a need for having a second airport in the city to boost regional economy. “The government will identify 1,000-1500 acres of land near Kalyani to set up a new green-field airport near Kolkata,” he said. The Budget also proposed to set up three new airports across the State.“To make air travel more accessible and affordable, and to strengthen regional tourism, new airports will be developed and made functional under the Udan scheme of Government of India. Such new airports will be set up in Purulia, Balurghat and Malda,” the FM said.“The existing airport at Cooch Behar will be expanded. I propose an allocation of ₹10 crore for this purpose in the current financial year. The State government will provide 25 acre of land to Hasimara Air Force Station and 37 acres of land to Kalaikunda Air Force Station for expansion and provide the development of these strategic facilities,” Dasgupta informed.The maiden Budget of the BJP government in Bengal proposed to build a new thermal power project at Santaldih in Purulia district to overcome any electricity shortage in the State.In a major announcement, the government proposed allocation of ₹5,000 crore for incentivising fresh investment. Notably, industry bodies have been urging the reinstatement of industrial incentives, withdrawn by the erstwhile Trinamool Congress government in the State, to restore investor confidence and provide policy certainty.Published on June 22, 2026
