Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone’s managing director Karan Adani met West Bengal’s chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The meeting caused a lot of excitement as it could potentially give a boost to the state’s ailing maritime sector. The plot thickened when it was announced that the Union Ports and Shipping Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, would meet the chief minister the very next day, Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Karan Adani happens to be the son of Gautam Adani. Some folks believe this meeting signals that the Adani Group wants to expand its footprint in the state. Although no specifics were revealed about what was discussed, the group is already active in various infrastructure projects like data centers, power transmission, and city gas distribution. To add to that, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone had previously secured a bid for the Tajpur deep-sea port project. Unfortunately, the bid was scrapped by the former Trinamool Congress-led government, which then launched a fresh tendering round.

In their 2026 West Bengal Assembly election manifesto, the BJP vowed to build the Tajpur deep-sea port in East Midnapore and develop the Kulpi port in South 24 Parganas. These initiatives are critical for boosting industry, improving logistics, and creating jobs. The Tajpur project, estimated at ₹25,000 crore, is expected to progress following a change in government. With the project moving ahead, industry folks hope for enhanced cooperation between the central and state governments, which would quicken development.

The most recent global tender by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation in December 2025 was scrapped since it didn’t meet the minimum requirements. Adhip Nath Pal Chowdhury, chairman of the National Shipping and Logistics Committee of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that a close relationship between the center and state could advance the project. Still, its success hinges on solid connectivity and seamless multimodal links.

The Tajpur Port Project was conceived more than a decade ago. It aims to alleviate pressure on the river-based Kolkata Dock system. It also aims to strengthen eastern India's maritime infrastructure. The project was initially explored in partnership with the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata. Later, the state opted for a public-private partnership model. In 2021, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone submitted the highest bid for the new port project. This bid was based on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis. It defeated a rival bid from JSW Infrastructure. The previous TMC-led government had withdrawn from the project due to some differences.