Why Kolkata is Not Developing?

I was born and raised in Kolkata. I’ve spent over 30 years in this city, watching it evolve—or rather, watching it stay the same while the rest of India moved forward. People say Kolkata is a city of nostalgia, a city of “Adda,” a city of culture. And yes, it is. But let’s face the truth—nostalgia doesn’t build a future, Adda doesn’t create jobs, and culture alone can’t run an economy.

Kolkata, once the financial and industrial capital of India, has become a city stuck in time. It is a city of unfulfilled potential, a city that should have been a global powerhouse but instead struggles with broken roads, declining industries, and a youth population desperate to leave.

So why isn’t Kolkata developing? Let’s dig deeper.

1. The Death of Industry – Why Did Kolkata Lose It All?

Before Independence, Kolkata was an economic powerhouse. We had jute mills, engineering factories, and some of the biggest corporate houses. Then came partition in 1947, and we lost East Bengal (now Bangladesh), which was a key supplier of raw materials and trade routes. But that was just the beginning of the downfall.

The real death blow came in the 1960s and 70s, during the rise of trade unions and militant labor movements. Strikes and lockouts became common. Big industries like Dunlop, IISCO, and Jessop shut down. Companies fled to other states where they didn’t have to deal with constant labor disputes and political interference. Even today, despite promises from governments, industrial investment remains minimal.

Compare Kolkata to Bangalore. Bangalore had no major industries in the 1980s, but today it’s the IT capital of India. Why? Because Karnataka’s government actively invited businesses, made policies investor-friendly, and created infrastructure to support growth. Kolkata, on the other hand, kept scaring investors away with red tape and outdated policies.

2. The Infrastructure Mess – A City That Floods Every Year

Every monsoon, Kolkata turns into Venice—but without the charm.

Lake Town, Behala, Ultadanga, Dum Dum—these places get waterlogged so badly that cars float, drains overflow, and entire neighborhoods shut down. This is not a new problem. It happens every single year. Yet, no government has ever fixed it properly. The drainage system is 100+ years old, built during the British era, and has never been fully modernized.

And let’s talk about roads. Some of the busiest roads in Kolkata have potholes so deep they could swallow a small car. Flyovers get built, then collapse. Metro projects take decades to complete. Basic city planning is missing.

Now, look at Gurgaon, Hyderabad, or even Navi Mumbai. They’ve built entire smart cities from scratch. They have highways, rapid transit systems, well-maintained roads, and planned urban spaces. Kolkata, on the other hand, is still dealing with broken footpaths and overflowing garbage dumps.

3. Traffic, Public Transport & The Never-Ending Chaos

Ask any Kolkatan about their biggest daily struggle, and they’ll say one word: Traffic.

• Kolkata has one of the slowest average traffic speeds among metro cities in India. A 10 km drive that should take 20 minutes takes an hour during peak hours.
• Traffic lights don’t work half the time. Police manually control signals, leading to even more chaos.
• Autos drive like they own the roads, stopping wherever they feel like, causing jams.
• Buses are overcrowded, irregular, and in terrible condition.

And the Metro? Yes, we take pride in the fact that Kolkata had the first metro in India, but what’s the point if new metro routes take decades to complete? The East-West Metro, which started construction in 2009, is still incomplete in 2025! Bangalore built an entire metro network in the same time span.

4. Political & Bureaucratic Red Tape – The Biggest Roadblock

Kolkata’s biggest problem isn’t lack of resources—it’s government inefficiency and political interference.

Here’s the truth: if you want to start a business in Kolkata, you’ll drown in paperwork. Permits take months. Government officials expect bribes at every step. If you don’t have the right political connections, your work won’t get done.

Other cities make it easy for businesses to set up and grow. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune—they’ve all created an ecosystem that attracts investment. Kolkata, on the other hand, makes business owners run from office to office for basic approvals.

And let’s not forget Bandhs (strikes). Every few months, there’s a new reason for a strike—transport strike, workers’ strike, political party protest. These bring the city to a standstill, scaring away investors even more.

5. Where Are The Jobs? Why Does Every Young Kolkatan Want to Leave?

Kolkata is one of the cheapest cities to live in, but cheap living doesn’t mean anything if there are no good jobs.

• IT? The sector exists, but it’s nowhere close to Bangalore, Pune, or Hyderabad.
• Startups? Barely any. Unlike Gurgaon or Mumbai, Kolkata has very few successful startups.
• Private sector? Limited. The biggest employers in Kolkata are still government institutions like the Railways, LIC, and BSNL.

Most talented young people in Kolkata don’t want to stay here. They move to Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, or abroad because that’s where real opportunities are. This brain drain is one of the biggest reasons Kolkata isn’t growing. The brightest minds leave, and the city is left behind with fewer innovators and entrepreneurs.

6. Safety, Healthcare & Social Issues

Women’s Safety & Crime

Kolkata used to be considered one of the safest cities in India, but recent incidents have made people question that. The brutal rape and murder of a young medical student in 2024 led to massive protests. Crimes against women are rising, and many areas are unsafe after dark.

Healthcare System in Crisis

Government hospitals are overcrowded, and private hospitals charge a fortune. Doctors have gone on strike multiple times, leaving patients helpless. If someone from a poor background falls seriously ill in Kolkata, their survival chances depend on luck, not the healthcare system.

7. Environmental Neglect – A Dying City?

• Garbage disposal is a joke. Even in central areas, you’ll find overflowing garbage bins, plastic waste, and dirty streets.
• Pollution levels are rising. The air quality is getting worse, especially in winter.
• The Hooghly River is dying. Pollution, industrial waste, and sewage are killing one of Kolkata’s most important natural resources.

Final Thoughts – Can Kolkata Change?

I love my city, but love alone can’t fix its problems. Kolkata needs:

1. Serious industrial investment – We need to bring back businesses and create jobs.
2. Massive infrastructure modernization – Fix roads, complete metro projects, improve drainage.
3. Better governance – Cut down on red tape, make the city investor-friendly.
4. Urban planning reforms – Solve traffic issues, control unplanned construction.
5. A cultural mindset shift – We need to stop romanticizing the “good old days” and focus on the future.

Until these things happen, Kolkata will remain what it has become—a city of lost potential, a city where the past is glorified but the future remains uncertain.

As someone who has lived here for 30 years, I don’t want to leave. But sometimes, I wonder—does Kolkata even want to change? Or is it happy being stuck in time?

Also, read

• Why Kolkata is Known as the Black City?
• Why Kolkata is Called ‘City of Joy’?