The Bengal cabinet on Monday approved a fresh request for participation (RFP) for the proposed ₹25,000-crore Tajpur deep sea port, marking a new phase in the long-pending project.
The state government had earlier announced in November 2023 its intent to float a new tender but had not formally scrapped the first bidding process, in which Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) had emerged the winner in 2022. The move comes weeks after Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna.
The Bengal cabinet had originally cleared Adani Ports’ proposal for the project in September 2021, following a bidding process that saw two contenders — Adani Ports and JSW Infrastructure. The final day for bids was March 14, 2021, and APSEZ was later issued a letter of intent.
The Tajpur port, Bengal’s first deep sea project, is expected to generate 25,000 direct jobs and many more indirect employment opportunities once developed.