Whalesbook
Construction Momentum Builds
Bengal IT minister Babul Supriyo announced significant construction momentum at the Bengal Silicon Valley Hub. A majority of companies that secured land parcels have commenced development, signaling a ramp-up in IT and data centre investments in the New Town cluster.
Key Projects Take Shape
Of the 41 companies that have taken land, 31 have started construction, three are already functional, and seven are on the verge of completion, Supriyo stated. Operational units include data centres by NTT, CtrlS, and ST Telemedia. Major entities such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Reliance Industries, and Airtel Nxtra have also secured plots.
The under-construction LTI Mindtree campus is a significant project, representing a ₹2,000 crore investment across 18.92 acres. This envisioned IT campus features six towers, with Phase I comprising two towers expected to be completed by April-May 2026. These initial towers alone are projected to accommodate nearly 7,000 IT professionals, with the full campus eventually housing around 25,000.
State's IT Infrastructure Expansion
Beyond the Silicon Valley Hub, West Bengal maintains 22 IT parks statewide, reporting approximately 70 per cent occupancy. The minister noted that IT parks in Siliguri and Kolkata are fully occupied, with private IT parks also seeing rapid uptake.
Tackling Brain Drain
Supriyo argued that the expanding local IT infrastructure addresses concerns about "brain drain." He believes that with substantial local campus and data centre investments, IT professionals from Bengal will have fewer incentives to migrate to hubs like Bengaluru, Gurgaon, or Hyderabad, where living costs, particularly rent, are higher. The government has pledged support for infrastructure development as required by companies.
The hub is anticipated to catalyze ancillary services, boost real estate development in New Town, and solidify West Bengal's position as an emerging technology investment destination in Eastern India.