KOLKATA, 19 AUGUST 2026: West Bengal’s real-estate and construction ecosystem has embarked upon an ambitious trajectory of infrastructural metamorphosis, technological assimilation and sustainable urbanisation, with the CII Realty East 2026 & Build Expo 2026 emerging as a consequential platform for deliberations on the future architectural and economic landscape of Eastern India.
The three-day exhibition, inaugurated at the Biswa Bangla Exhibition Centre, New Town, Kolkata, has brought together more than 50 exhibitors and attracted nearly 1,000 visitors on its opening day, besides assembling an extensive constellation of policymakers, government functionaries, real-estate developers, architects, infrastructure specialists, technology providers and allied industry stakeholders.
Addressing the inaugural congregation, Smt. Agnimitra Paul, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Departments of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal, articulated a comprehensive vision for transforming the State’s urban centres into technologically sophisticated, economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable growth engines.
“This is a defining moment in West Bengal’s growth trajectory. We are working towards a clear growth map for the State while addressing long-standing civic bottlenecks. Our focus is on uncompromising quality, rapid and seamless execution, and zero tolerance for unsafe construction. My vision is to transform our cities into dynamic economic engines that create opportunities and grow sustainably,” she said.
Underscoring the Government’s determination to dismantle administrative impediments and modernise the urban-development architecture, Ms. Paul emphasised the imperative of integrated civic infrastructure, contemporary engineering methodologies and technology-enabled governance.
She stated that the State Government is investing in integrated civic systems and modern infrastructure, while technology would assume a pivotal role in guaranteeing structural integrity, enhancing energy efficiency and facilitating the emergence of resilient urban agglomerations. She further stressed the Government’s commitment to eliminating bureaucratic delays, rationalising building-plan approvals and augmenting procedural transparency.
“Sustainable development cannot exist without structural discipline, and there will be zero tolerance for violations of building rules,” she asserted.
Reinforcing her vision for the State’s future urban morphology, Ms. Paul declared, “The skyline of tomorrow’s Bengal must be built on uncompromising trust, safety, and quality.” She further highlighted proposed strategic infrastructure initiatives, including a ring road, an elevated corridor from Bypass Dhaba to Rajarhat, and the development of four smart cities.
Mr. Vibhu Goel, IAS, Managing Director, West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, emphasised the Government’s objective of positioning Kolkata as an increasingly consequential nucleus of investment, collaboration and economic expansion.
“The Government is committed to making Kolkata a hub for partnership and growth. One of the key challenges is the availability of land, and steps are being taken to address this. The Government is also taking a more collaborative approach. The social environment and the business environment can and must grow together,” he observed.
Calling for a more enabling regulatory ecosystem, Mr. Harshavardhan Neotia, Past Chairman, CII Eastern Region & Chairman, CII SNCEL & Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group, identified accelerated statutory clearances and infrastructural augmentation as indispensable prerequisites for expeditious project execution.
“We have a few key asks from the Government. Progressive policies are needed to enable faster implementation of projects. The speed of clearances is very important. Clearing the bottlenecks along the metro corridors will have a tremendous impact on the city. Our two key asks are regulatory support and infrastructure development. The rest can be driven by individual businesses,” he said.
Mr. Neotia further advocated a more pedestrian-oriented, inclusive and sustainable urban paradigm, while stressing the necessity for enhanced Centre-State coordination. He also underscored the prospective requirement for an additional airport before the existing aviation infrastructure reaches saturation, and noted expectations surrounding forthcoming land and industrial policies.
Mr. Mehul Mohanka, Chairman, CII Eastern Region & Managing Director and Group CEO, Tega Industries Ltd, underscored the strategic significance of the real-estate sector within India’s macroeconomic architecture.
“India’s real estate sector is at an important stage and plays a critical role in revenue generation. It is also the second-largest employment generator in the country. As the sector grows, we must remain mindful of the need for sustainable development,” he said.
The environmental ramifications of accelerated construction also occupied a prominent position in the deliberations. Mr. Vivek Singh Rathore, Chairman, IGBC Kolkata & Founder & Principal, The Salient, highlighted the resource-intensive character of the construction industry and called for sustainability to be embedded intrinsically within urban planning and development rather than being treated as an ancillary consideration.
“Construction is a resource-consuming industry, and we need to remain mindful of its impact on the environment. Sustainable practices must therefore be an integral part of how we plan and develop our cities,” he opined.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hemant Lodha, Founding Partner, Windamere Projects, evocatively characterised Kolkata as the “jewel of the country”, while Mr. Pradeep Sureka, Chairman, Sureka Group, observed that the metropolis possesses a pronounced appetite for growth, which must be complemented by commensurate infrastructural expansion.
The inaugural day also witnessed an extensive repertoire of thematic sessions examining the transformative forces reshaping Eastern India’s built environment. Deliberations encompassed integrated townships and the next phase of real-estate evolution, the transition towards greener and net-zero buildings, emergent technologies and innovation in housing and construction, and the catalytic role of public infrastructure in stimulating investment and economic growth.
The multidimensional discussions facilitated an exchange of perspectives among developers, architects, technology specialists, infrastructure leaders and industry stakeholders, with particular emphasis on actionable frameworks for developing sustainable, intelligent, resilient and future-ready urban ecosystems.
With its convergence of policy, enterprise, technology and infrastructure, CII Realty East 2026 & Build Expo 2026 has established itself as a significant forum for recalibrating the developmental discourse surrounding Eastern India’s built environment.
Build Expo 2026 will continue until 21 August 2026 at the Biswa Bangla Exhibition Centre, New Town, Kolkata, showcasing an extensive spectrum of products, technologies, engineering solutions and innovations intended to redefine the contemporary built environment.
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