The West Bengal government will sign an agreement with the Centre on September 28 to establish an airport in Purulia district under the Centre’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said. The scheme aims to improve air connectivity in underserved regions and strengthen links between smaller centres and larger transport networks.

Adhikari said preparations for the airport had been completed and that the state government had already applied for the required licence. The transport secretary accompanied him to an administrative review meeting at the Circuit House, where a representative of the civil aviation authorities was also present.

The chief minister said improved air connectivity would support a broader development plan for Purulia, covering tourism, infrastructure and industrial activity. He said the state intended to develop the district as a major industrial hub, with investment proposals from the defence, steel, cement and solar sectors.

Adhikari put the potential investment in the district over the next year at Rs. 1 tn and said he had conducted the ground-breaking ceremony for a Rs. 50 bn project in Raghunathpur. He identified solar plants as a sector attracting particularly strong demand, alongside proposed industrial facilities.

The government also plans to expand the local mini zoo and renovate forest department guest houses to support religious and forest tourism. Adhikari said development measures would include employment and welfare benefits for local households.

He added that 656,000 women had received their August payments under the Annapurna Yojana. A list covering approximately 200,000 new houses had been submitted under the housing scheme, while 16,000 applicants had received Rs. 60,000 as the second instalment. Adhikari also linked Purulia’s political support for the BJP since 2018 with his decision to prioritise development in the district.