KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday reviewed the progress of the existing industrial projects and discussed new ones with a team from the Salim group led by Executive Director, Beni Santoso. The group has been in discussion with the State government for some time over a clutch of projects involving substantial inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Besides a four-member team from the Salim group, Mr. Santoso was accompanied by a seven-member team from a Chinese company which would give technology support to the motorcycle project that the Salim group is implementing in Uluberia, near Howrah.

Briefing reporters at the state secretariat, Mr. Bhattacharjee said the Salim group would set up a road project, a bridge, two special economic zones (SEZs) and two townships. One of the townships in West Howrah was already under implementation. "I expect them to implement all the projects", he said.

Referring to the $250 million motorcycle project, he said the promoters had now finalised their technological collaborators, Chuansung, a Chinese company. While $60 million would be spent on this project the West Howrah township project was slated to cost $350 million. Foundations for these two projects were laid earlier this year.

The group has also shown keenness to get into the state's pisciculture sector for which they have asked for 10,000 acres.

While the road (85 km four-lane expressway) would link Barasat in north 24 parganas with Haldia, a bridge would be built over the river. The second township was proposed to be built at Dankuni on the northern fringes of the city.

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