ITC, Airtel line up more investments in Bengal

Leading corporates ITC and Bharti Airtel on Friday said they would ramp up their investments in West Bengal. ITC chairman YC Deveshwar speaking at the Bengal Global Business Summit here today said the company already has investments worth Rs 4,500 crore in process. Two plants — one food processing and another an integrated logistics park — are nearing completion.

ITC was also coming up with a marque hotel next to ITC Sonar which would be christened as ITC Royal Bengal, he said, adding, this property will have 1.5 million square feet and has been designed in such a way so as to attract international attention. Deveshwar said that work on the proposed ITC Infotech on 3.5 million sq ft would start before February this year. "Our investments are closely linked to IT, agriculture, hotels and tourism which will have a multiplier effect," he added.

Bharti Enterprises vice-chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal said Bharti Group including Airtel has made an investment of Rs 9,000 crore in West Bengal. "We will invest another Rs 3,500 crore in the next three years," he added.