The establishment of "Growth Centers" in India has been taken up by the state and the central government with the strategy of all round development of the states as well as the nation. An emphasis has been put on rural development and rural- urban integration. The "Fourth Five Year Plan" for the years 1969 to 1974 saw the launch of a research project for establishing twenty investigation and research cells for recognizing the various growth centers in different states.
West Bengal, one of the economic hubs for India has responded and contributed significantly to the establishment of growth centers with modernize infrastructure, all across the state. The government of West Bengal has taken the help of "West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation" (WBIIDC) in creating the growth centers. WBIIDC has created twelve growth centers in various regions of West Bengal like Kalyani (Phase 1, 2, 3), Uluberia, Falta, Raninagar, Bishnupur, Coochbehar, Dadgram, Malda, Kharagpur and Haldia. Besides these three growth centers in Bolpur, Jalpaiguri and Malda (Phase 2) are also coming up.
Further elite growth centers for the electronics industries, "Export Processing Industrial Park" at Durgapur, "Software Technology Park" in Salt Lake and "Export Processing Zone" in Falta has also emerged within the state.
The growth centers have been provided with the state of the art infrastructure which includes developed land, water supply, internal drainage and sewage system, industrial shed, power supply, street lightning etc, Other facilities that are in the list for the upcoming growth centers include telephone, post offices, banks, fire stations, shopping centers, recreational centers, police outposts
WBIIDC has also facilitated and promoted the growth of industrial parks. Some of these include the following.
- Manikanchan SEZ, Salt Lake, Kolkata
- Apparel Export Park, Uluberia, Howrah District
- 5 Shilpangan (Light Engineering Park), Salt Lake, Kolkata
- Garment Park, Kolkata
- Poly Park, Howrah District
- Food Park (Phase I & II ), Howrah District
- Rubber Park, Sankrail, Howrah District
- Steel Park (Phase - I & II), Bankura District
- Biotech Park Bio, West Midnapore District
- Iron & Steel Park, Kharagpur, West Midnapore District
- Foundry Park, Howrah
- Iron & Steel Park, Guptamoni ,Jhargram ,West Midnapore District
There are quite a number of exclusive Intelligent Parks that are being established in West Bengal which is one of the nucleuses for the IT companies. Many private entrepreneurs are also contributing to this by setting up the high-tech intelligent buildings and parks. West Bengal is also preparing to launch a number of "Mega IT" projects. Several IT Parks that have already been established are listed below.
- Technopolis Sector V, Salt Lake
- Infinity Benchmark Sector V, Salt Lake
- Globsys Crystals Sector V, Salt Lake
- Infinity Waterside Sector V, Salt Lake
- The Hub Sector V, Salt Lake
- Millenium City Sector V, Salt Lake
- Bengal Intelligent Park Sector V, Salt Lake
Last Updated on : 22 March 2013
