📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Finance of India
Politics
West Bengal Finance Minister Calls for Repeal of 1976 Urban Land Act
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 04 Oct 2026, 01:16 AM
👁 16
West Bengal's finance minister urged the state government to abolish the 1976 Urban Land Act, citing the need for reforms.
Kolkata, Oct 3 (ET) – The finance minister of West Bengal publicly advocated for the repeal of the Urban Land Act of 1976, arguing that the decades‑old legislation hampers modern urban development.
The 1976 Act, enacted shortly after the Emergency period, governs the acquisition, allocation and regulation of land in urban areas across the state. Critics have long contended that its provisions are outdated and create bottlenecks for infrastructure projects and private investment.
In a statement to the press, the minister said that scrapping the act would pave the way for a more streamlined land‑use policy, aligning with contemporary planning needs. He did not disclose a timeline for legislative action, noting that the proposal would be discussed in the upcoming cabinet meeting.
The call for repeal adds to a growing chorus of business groups and urban planners urging the state to overhaul land‑related regulations. The government has yet to confirm whether a formal bill will be introduced.
The move is being watched closely by developers and local authorities, who anticipate that any change could reshape land‑allocation processes in major cities such as Kolkata, Howrah and Siliguri.
The 1976 Act, enacted shortly after the Emergency period, governs the acquisition, allocation and regulation of land in urban areas across the state. Critics have long contended that its provisions are outdated and create bottlenecks for infrastructure projects and private investment.
In a statement to the press, the minister said that scrapping the act would pave the way for a more streamlined land‑use policy, aligning with contemporary planning needs. He did not disclose a timeline for legislative action, noting that the proposal would be discussed in the upcoming cabinet meeting.
The call for repeal adds to a growing chorus of business groups and urban planners urging the state to overhaul land‑related regulations. The government has yet to confirm whether a formal bill will be introduced.
The move is being watched closely by developers and local authorities, who anticipate that any change could reshape land‑allocation processes in major cities such as Kolkata, Howrah and Siliguri.