BJP Government Unveils Ambitious Bengal Budget: New Kolkata Airport, IIT-IIM Campuses and ₹36,000 Crore Annapurna Yojana

West Bengal's first budget under the BJP government has outlined an ambitious roadmap focused on infrastructure, connectivity, education and welfare, signalling a major shift in the state's development priorities.

Presenting the 2026-27 Budget in the Assembly, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced plans for a second airport serving the Kolkata metropolitan region. The proposed greenfield airport will be developed in Kalyani, with around 1,000 acres of land to be identified for the project. The new airport is intended to ease growing congestion at Kolkata's existing airport and support future economic growth.

The government also unveiled plans to strengthen regional air connectivity across the state. New airports are proposed in Purulia, Balurghat and Malda under the Centre's UDAAN scheme, while the airport at Cooch Behar will be expanded.

In the education sector, the BJP government announced plans to establish IIT and IIM campuses in North Bengal, a move aimed at boosting higher education and attracting investment to the region.

The budget also places emphasis on law and order, with the government proposing to fill 20,000 vacancies in the state police force.

On the welfare front, the government allocated ₹36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana, the revamped version of the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. According to budget estimates, the scheme will benefit around one crore women, each receiving ₹3,000 per month.

The BJP government stated that stricter verification and revised eligibility criteria have been introduced to ensure benefits reach genuine recipients. Officials claim that nearly 30 lakh beneficiaries were removed after verification exercises to eliminate duplication and ineligible claims.

Finance Minister Dasgupta told the Assembly that the government inherited a debt burden of approximately ₹8.15 lakh crore and would focus on fiscal discipline while continuing major welfare programmes.

The budget reflects the BJP government's attempt to balance infrastructure expansion, employment generation, education reforms and social welfare while addressing the state's financial challenges. If implemented successfully, the projects announced could significantly reshape West Bengal's economic and development landscape over the coming years.

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