Kolkata is strategically positioned to become the primary anchor for eastern India's economic growth, according to Sanjeev Sanyal, a distinguished Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Speaking at Business Today's India @ 100 event, Sanyal highlighted the urgent need for a dynamic urban network in the region to drive development, a feature currently lacking compared to other parts of the country.
Kolkata's Untapped Potential
Sanyal made a compelling case for Kolkata, emphasizing its inherent advantages. "By sheer scale, Kolkata is the best bet," he stated. The city boasts a significant legacy industrial base, substantial human capital, and robust existing infrastructure. Its size alone positions it as a dominant urban center compared to its regional counterparts, making it an ideal candidate to spearhead rapid economic expansion.
To maximize this potential, Sanyal proposed a strategic plan: connecting Kolkata with other key cities in eastern India. This network would include Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Guwahati, and Patna. The goal is to forge a wider, more integrated urban growth network, rather than broadly distributing resources. "Getting Kolkata right is very important, and that's why you have to begin to concentrate it," Sanyal added, cautioning against a generic spread of infrastructure and human capital that would fail to generate significant growth.
Addressing India's East-West Divide
Sanyal also drew attention to a pronounced east-west economic disparity across India. He observed that regions west of a longitudinal line drawn through Visakhapatnam are generally significantly wealthier than those to the east. This divide is so strong it's evident even within large states, with western parts often richer than their eastern counterparts. Examples include Western Uttar Pradesh versus Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Western Madhya Pradesh versus Eastern Madhya Pradesh, and Western Maharashtra versus Eastern Maharashtra. Even Telangana, recently part of the same state as Andhra Pradesh, is now wealthier.
He attributed this uneven development not to generically spread growth, but to the concentration of economic activity within highly dynamic urban hubs. These agglomerations serve as powerful engines of growth, attracting capital, talent, and innovation.
Regional Growth Hubs Elsewhere
Sanyal cited examples of successful urban growth triangles and clusters in other parts of India:
- South India: Economic growth is predominantly concentrated in the Hyderabad-Bengaluru-Chennai triangle, with some spillover into surrounding areas.
- Western India: Key economic drivers include Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad, forming a broader growth zone that also extends to cities like Rajkot.
- North India: Growth is largely centered around the Delhi-NCR region, with its influence stretching towards Jaipur, Noida, and Chandigarh.
Sanyal's vision for Kolkata aims to replicate this model of concentrated, interconnected urban development to unlock eastern India's full economic potential.