Union Home Minister Amit Shah has virtually laid the foundation stone for a substantial Amul dairy project in West Bengal, a facility projected to become the world's largest curd production plant. The significant investment, valued at ₹700 crore, is designated for Sankrail in Howrah district. Mr. Shah presided over the virtual ceremony from the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, located in the New Town area of eastern Kolkata, marking the conclusion of his three-day visit to the state. This initiative is heralded as a pivotal step towards bolstering the region's agricultural economy.

The ambitious undertaking is poised to make a considerable impact on West Bengal's dairy sector, with its primary objective being to significantly enhance production and processing capabilities for dairy products. This expansion is expected to translate into improved financial prospects and increased incomes for thousands of local farmers, integrating them more robustly into the value chain. The sheer scale of the project, with its ₹700-crore outlay, underscores a strategic investment aimed at modernising and expanding the state's capacity for dairy product manufacturing, positioning West Bengal as a key player in the national dairy industry. The focus on curd production, in particular, highlights a response to growing consumer demand and market opportunities.

During his address at the virtual event, Mr. Shah also offered observations on the political trajectory of West Bengal. He characterised the political transformation occurring in the state as unprecedented since India achieved independence, suggesting a profound shift in governance and developmental priorities. The Union Home Minister affirmed his government's dedication to fulfilling the pledge of ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal), a vision that encompasses comprehensive prosperity and development across various sectors, including agriculture and industry. He linked such projects directly to the realisation of this overarching promise for the state's future.

Mr. Shah utilised the platform to voice criticism against prior state governments, specifically referencing the Left Front and Trinamool Congress administrations. He suggested that these preceding governments had not adequately fostered the kind of comprehensive development and economic progress that his party envisions for the region. His remarks underscored a narrative of significant political and developmental change currently underway in West Bengal, aiming to differentiate the current approach from past governance. The emphasis was placed on a new era of growth and opportunity, driven by strategic investments like the Amul dairy plant.

The foundation stone laying ceremony served as a key event during Mr. Shah's three-day engagement in West Bengal, which encompassed various public and private interactions aimed at assessing and promoting the state's development agenda. The inauguration of the Amul dairy project is seen as a tangible step towards the economic revitalisation of the state, aligning with broader national initiatives to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and support rural livelihoods. The project's magnitude and its potential to become the world's largest curd production facility positions it as a landmark development for the region's industrial and agricultural landscape, promising long-term benefits for both producers and consumers.