As the timeline approaches nearly 17 months later, the project remains inactive, and there has been no significant public announcement regarding the start of production.
The greenfield steel initiative, located in Garbeta within West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district, is being developed in collaboration with Captain Steel, a manufacturer of TMT bars. It is anticipated to achieve an annual production capacity of 0.8 million tonnes, or 8 lakh tonnes.
“We’re constructing the steel plant. However, people think it will be completed in two months, which is unrealistic. We are hopeful to begin operations in the next 18-20 months,” Ganguly reportedly stated at that time.
He mentioned that the project needed various approvals, including environmental, pollution, and governmental clearances. PTI had also indicated that around 350 acres of land were required for the proposed plant, with the acquisition process still underway.
Who is Sourav Ganguly’s partner in the steel project?
Ganguly has teamed up with Captain Steel, a TMT bar manufacturer, for the ₹2,500 crore venture.
Captain Steel currently operates two steel plants with a combined annual output of 5 lakh tonnes. Once operational, the Garbeta facility is expected to boost the company’s total production capacity to 1.3 million tonnes annually.
Officials previously conveyed to PTI that Ganguly’s stake in the project would be “substantial,” although specifics regarding his holdings were not disclosed.
Ganguly stated that the Garbeta facility would mark his third and largest endeavor in the steel industry.
When was the project first announced?
Ganguly first unveiled plans for the steel plant in West Bengal during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to Spain in September 2023.
The project was initially suggested for Salboni, in the Paschim Medinipur district. However, as the Salboni plan did not develop, the project was moved to Garbeta, roughly 26 km away.
In February 2025, a senior official from the joint venture partner informed PTI that the project would involve an estimated investment of ₹2,500 crore and have a capacity of 0.8 MTPA.
Ganguly’s involvement in the steel sector dates back to 2007.
The Garbeta initiative is not Ganguly’s first foray into the steel industry.
In 2023, the former India captain mentioned that he had been investing in steel business ventures with a friend since 2007, with their first plant located in Asansol and the second in Patna. His business partner primarily managed operations while Ganguly continued his cricket career.
The Garbeta project is set to be their third and largest steel plant.
Apart from steel, Ganguly has also ventured into startups. In 2023, he acquired a minority stake in an inter-city food delivery service, JustMyRoots. His other publicly reported investments in startups include the edtech platform Classplus and the digital entertainment company Flickstree.
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