West Bengal Budget 2026: Five New Districts, AIIMS in North Bengal, 650 MBBS Seats Proposed
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The proposed new districts are Kolkata, Basirhat, Sundarban, Jangipur, and Arambagh.
The West Bengal government has proposed the creation of five new districts and announced major healthcare and education initiatives, including an AIIMS and a dedicated cancer hospital in North Bengal, as part of its 2026 budget.
Presenting the first full budget of the BJP government in the state Assembly on Monday, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said the proposed administrative restructuring aims to improve governance, strengthen security-related coordination, and enhance public service delivery.
The proposed new districts are Kolkata, Basirhat, Sundarban, Jangipur, and Arambagh. According to Dasgupta, the move is intended to bring government services closer to citizens and improve administrative efficiency. The budget also includes the establishment of a new police district in Kanthi.
In addition, the government has proposed a new subdivision at Gopiballavpur and seven new municipalities at Shivmandir, Gazole, Chanchal, Belda, Badhana, Kamarpukur, and Kolaghat. The minister said these measures are aimed at improving civic infrastructure and making public services more accessible.
On the healthcare front, the state invited private organizations to establish advanced medical facilities under conditions designed to maintain affordability. Under the proposed framework, private hospitals will be required to reserve 50% of their beds for patients referred from government hospitals, either free of cost or at subsidized rates.
The government also announced support for patients and families traveling outside the state for specialized treatment. Affordable accommodation facilities will be arranged through public-private partnership models for those seeking treatment in cities such as Mumbai and Vellore.
A key healthcare announcement in the budget was the proposal to establish an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and a dedicated cancer hospital in north Bengal. The facilities are expected to strengthen healthcare access and medical education infrastructure in the region.
To expand medical education capacity, the government has also proposed adding 650 MBBS seats across 13 medical colleges in the state.
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