2. The Kolkata-Hugli Industrial Region

The Kolkata-Hugli industrial region is located along the banks of the Hugli River. The availability of agro-raw material (jute, indigo, and tea), nearness of coal mines (Raniganj andjharia), abundance of water, cheap labour, and facilities of export are the main factors which helped in the last growth of this industrial region. Moreover, Kolkata was the capital of British India from 1773 to 1911. Being the capital, Kolkata attracted many of the industrialists to locate their industries in this region.

There are over 10,000 registered industrial factories in this region in which over 20 lakh people are engaged. This belt specialises in the production of jute, silk, cotton textiles, engineering, electrical goods, automobiles, chemicals, pharmaceutical, transport equipments, leather-footwear, iron and steel and food processing, light machine, locomotives, iron and steel, and spare goods for different types of machines.

The main industrial cities and towns of this region are Bansbeia, Naihati, Bhatpara, Kankinara, Jagatdal, Shamnagar, Bhadreshwar, Krishnanagar, Baidyabati, Serampore, Titagarh, Rishira, Konnagar, Agarpara, Baranagar, Ghusuri, Chunchra, Kolkata, Haora, Budge Budge, Bauria, Chengail, and Birlapur.

The main problems of this industrial region are:

1. Paucity of space and traffic jams

2. Shortage of drinking water, insanitation and lack of infrastructural amenities

3. Silting of the Hugh River resulting in the silting of Kolkata port

4. Obsolete machinery

5. Naxalites movement and political unrest

6. Strikes and lockouts

7. Shortage of power supply

In order to overcome these problems the government of West Bengal is pursuing the policy of liberalisation and inviting domestic and foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the region. Some progress has been made in this direction in recent years.