Kolkata, West Bengal — Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for Amul’s world’s largest curd manufacturing plant in Kolkata. Built at an estimated cost of ₹700 crore, the state-of-the-art facility is set to significantly boost West Bengal’s dairy infrastructure and overall agricultural economy.
The mega project, developed under the Amul Bengal Dairy Project framework, incorporates advanced automated processing technology designed to process over 10 lakh liters of milk daily in its initial phase. The event also marked major digital and mobility launches aimed at bolstering the cooperative sector in West Bengal.
Major Highlights of the Event
The launch event highlighted several key industrial, digital, and transport initiatives:
- Foundation Ceremony: Formal foundation stone laying (Bhoomi Pujan) for Amul’s ₹700-crore dairy processing complex at Howrah Food Park.
- High Processing Capacity: Designed to process over 10 lakh liters of milk per day, with total long-term project capabilities reaching up to 30 lakh liters daily.
- Farmer Income Boost: Expected to directly benefit approximately 1.20 lakh livestock rearers and dairy farmers across West Bengal through structured milk procurement networks.
- Launch of e-RCS Portal: Official rollout of the e-RCS (e-Registrar of Cooperative Societies) digital portal to streamline and digitize cooperative administration.
- Mobility Partnership: A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the cooperative mobility platform ‘Bharat Taxi’ and the West Bengal government.
Economic and Agricultural Impact: Boosting Local Farmers
The establishment of the world’s largest curd production facility marks a major milestone for Eastern India’s dairy sector.
Direct Benefits to Livestock Rearers
By creating a high-capacity, automated processing facility, Amul provides a stable and direct market for regional dairy producers. Over 1.20 lakh small cattle rearers and milk producers stand to gain improved financial stability and higher price realization for their daily output.
Product Portfolio and Processing Scale
Beyond curd and cultured dairy products, the facility is designed to manufacture a wide spectrum of dairy commodities. Its planned daily output includes packaged fresh milk, ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk, ice cream, paneer, ghee, traditional sweets, and flavored milk packs.
Digitalization and Transport Reforms: e-RCS Portal & Bharat Taxi
Alongside the dairy complex, two key initiatives were introduced to enhance governance and service delivery:
1. The e-RCS Portal Launch
The e-RCS portal was introduced to digitize operations at the Office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in West Bengal. This digital system aims to bring complete transparency, simplify administrative procedures, and accelerate the online registration of local cooperative units.
2. Bharat Taxi MoU
The signing of the agreement between ‘Bharat Taxi’ and the state government introduces a cooperative-based mobility framework. The partnership aims to expand organized, reliable app-based taxi services while supporting driver-partners through cooperative benefit structures.
Conclusion
The launch of Amul’s ₹700-crore curd plant, combined with digital administration tools like the e-RCS portal and new mobility options via Bharat Taxi, represents a multi-pronged push toward strengthening West Bengal’s rural and cooperative infrastructure. These developments are expected to drive employment, empower local farmers, and enhance digital governance across the state.
Key Takeaways
- Investment: ₹700 crore invested in Amul’s mega dairy processing plant near Kolkata.
- Scale: Set to process over 10 lakh liters of milk daily, expanding to 30 lakh liters.
- Beneficiaries: Around 1.20 lakh dairy farmers and livestock rearers to see increased income levels.
- Digital Transformation: Launch of the e-RCS portal to digitize cooperative society registration and governance.
- Mobility Sector: Agreement signed between ‘Bharat Taxi’ and the West Bengal government.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the total investment cost for Amul’s new curd plant in Kolkata?
The project involves an estimated investment of ₹700 crore.
Q2: How many milk producers and livestock rearers will benefit from this project?
Approximately 1.20 lakh livestock rearers and milk producers in West Bengal are expected to benefit directly.
Q3: What is the purpose of the e-RCS portal launched at the event?
The e-RCS portal was created to digitize and bring transparency to administrative functions, registrations, and governance under the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in West Bengal.
Q4: What agreement was signed regarding ‘Bharat Taxi’?
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bharat Taxi and the West Bengal government to operate and expand organized mobility services in the state.
