New Town | February 27, 2026
New Town is set to witness the construction of a new Jain temple after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured land support for the project.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during a programme in Bhawanipur, where she responded positively to a request from members of the Jain community.
Government Assures Land, Trust to Lead Construction
The Chief Minister stated that temples cannot be directly constructed by the state government.
She did, however, assure that land in New Town would be allocated reserved to make the temple’s construction easier if the Jain community established an appropriate trust.
The action is regarded as a major step in encouraging the township’s rapidly expanding religious infrastructure.
Inaugurations and Community Outreach
Mamata Banerjee paved a Jain Manastambha and a Sant Kutia Gurudwara’s new entrance gate during the event. Before the official program commenced, she also prayed at a Jain temple.
Speaking to the audience, she referred to Bhawanipur as a “Mini India,” emphasizing the region’s peaceful coexistence of people from various communities and religions.
She reiterated her commitment to standing beside citizens in times of need, regardless of their religious background.
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Major State Projects Announced
In addition to the temple assurance, the chief minister initiated a number of state-wide development projects.
A total of 12.56 lakh bicycles were distributed to students under the Sabuj Sathi scheme. Under the program, the state has distributed more than 1.48 crore bicycles to date.
Additional announcements included:
- 100 modern bikes and advanced ladders for the fire department
- Inauguration of the Tollygunge Fire Station
- Launch of 100 AC and 20 non-AC CNG buses by the transport department
- Appointment letters for 20 government jobs from the Chief Minister’s quota
She also virtually inaugurated projects including a hostel and training camp for construction workers in Siliguri, a Minority Cultural Development Centre in New Town, and a new police station at Bijoyganj in Bhangar.
In total, 146 projects worth ₹390.50 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for 70 projects costing ₹455 crore.
Dignitaries and Public Response
The programme was attended by Firhad Hakim, Sujit Bose, Mala Roy, and representatives from Jain, Sikh, Muslim, and Buddhist communities.
A large crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the Chief Minister. After the event, she visited a gurudwara near SSKM Hospital to inspect the newly built gate and exchanged greetings with members of the Sikh community, who thanked her for the initiative.
With New Town rapidly emerging as a key residential and cultural hub of Kolkata, the proposed Jain temple is expected to add another spiritual landmark to the township.
What do you think about this initiative? Do let us know your comments below.
When government wants people to get distracted from the real issues, when govt does not want to act accountable, it tends to make religion its armour!