West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on 4 June 2026 that the proposed ₹15,000-crore Tajpur deep-sea port project in Purba Medinipur is being relocated ten kilometres away to Dadanpatrabar due to severe land constraints.
The decision follows a high-level meeting with Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), who confirmed that the conglomerate has officially exited the original Tajpur plan. To rescue the crucial infrastructure development, the state government has pitched the new coastal site, which offers 1,700 acres of available government land, and has already received preliminary approval from the central government.
A New Blueprint and Administrative Transition
The shift in strategy highlights a pragmatic pivot for the state’s maritime ambitions under the newly elected government.
Explaining the cancellation of the previous site, Chief Minister Adhikari stated at the state secretariat, Nabanna, “The Adani Group had already exited the project because it was not feasible, as the government had no land. I had said this repeatedly earlier that the port was never feasible until there is rail connectivity, warehouse facilities, and several thousand acres of land.” An official evaluation spearheaded by Industry Secretary Vandana Yadav and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal corroborated that the lack of public land made Tajpur unviable. However, the proposal for Dadanpatrabar—a site that formerly housed a salt factory—presents an immediate solution, with the Chief Minister adding, “We can start work with the existing land and later, more land can be acquired.”
Reviving Bilateral Ties and Overcoming Past Delays
The mega-project, originally conceived under the previous Trinamool Congress administration, had remained stalled for years.
Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had handed over a Letter of Intent to the Adani Group in October 2022, but administrative friction later led to the termination of that agreement and a series of aborted global tenders. The current administration has actively sought to repair federal-state synergy, coordinating directly with Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. The central government has consented to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Dadanpatrabar under a revenue-sharing model. Furthermore, West Bengal has officially joined the Centre’s Sagarmala 2.0 programme, drafting a five-year, ₹22,700-crore proposal to upgrade port connectivity, fisheries infrastructure, and minor ports across the coastline.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that sustainable development must be anchored in transparency, cooperative federalism, and the welfare of local communities.
The gridlock that paralyzed the Tajpur project for nearly four years serves as a stark reminder of how political friction can stall progress that benefits millions. While the shift to Dadanpatrabar brings a realistic approach to infrastructure and economic growth, it is vital that the impending land utilization and industrial expansion remain empathetic to local ecology and the livelihoods of coastal residents. Progress is hollow if it leaves vulnerable communities behind; true harmony is achieved when large-scale industrialization coexists seamlessly with environmental preservation and community consensus. How can the government and corporate stakeholders ensure that this massive maritime expansion genuinely prioritises the ecological safety and livelihood security of the local coastal populace?
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Kolkata: West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari says, "Yesterday, I had a meeting with Karan Adani regarding the proposed deep-sea port project at Tajpur. Earlier, the government did not have the required land in its possession. Following the change in government, we are convinced that… pic.twitter.com/kKLKeZbICS
— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2026
