The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry organized the ‘BCC&I Infrastructure e-Conclave: Re-Strategize Indian Infrastructure Growth & Preparedness for Global Play’ on January 8, 2021 on virtual platform. The objective of the E-Conclave was to Re-Strategize Indian Infrastructure Growth & Preparedness for Global Play in the Post COVID era, Infrastructure Finance, Indian Railway Infrastructure: The Track that creates pathway of Growth, the Speed that determines the quantum of Growth and Social Infrastructure.

The Keynote speaker was Dr. Junaid Ahmad, Country Director (India), World Bank. In his Keynote Address, Dr. Ahmad mentioned that Kolkata has the potential to become a major transport and logistics hub linked to the north eastern region and neighbouring countries if it can develop an integrated system with corporations running the show. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and an intermodal system that connects the corridor with rail, road and waterways can transform the city. The World Bank has also recently signed a tripartite agreement to extend $105 million of soft loan to develop inland waterways in and around greater Kolkata on the river Hooghly. The latest World Bank project will enhance the capacity and safety of the inland water transport system by rehabilitating jetties, buying new ferries with enhanced design; and installing electronic gates in 40 locations. He stated that the World Bank will partner with the state government to convert Kolkata into a transport and logistic hub of the sub-region linking the Northeast. In the second phase, it will support long-term investments for passenger movement, including in terminals and jetties; improve design of the inland water transport vessels and encourage the private sector to invest in Ro-Ro vessels that will allow easier movement of trucks across the Hooghly river. He further said that projects related to public services should be developed through a corporate-like structure with adequate user charge base so that the entities can sustainably deliver such services.

Other eminent speakers were Dr. Amita Prasad, IAS, Chairperson, IWAI, Mr. P.R. Jaishankar, Managing Director, IIFCL; Mr. S K Lohia, Managing Director & CEO, IRSE, Indian Railway Station Development Corporation; Mr. Pawan K Kumar, IRS, Deputy Managing Director, IIFCL; Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, General Manager (PF&SSBU), State Bank of India; Mr. Harsimran Singh, IRSE, Chief Project Manager, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd.; Mr. Vineet Vijayavargia, Partner, Boston Consulting Group India; Mr. Surjayan Mukherjee, Vice President (Sales and Marketing), JSW Cement and Mr. Parveen Sharma, CEO (India), The BIM Engineers.