Singur's Barren Land: 18 Years After Tata's Exit, PM Modi's Visit Ignites New Hope

• In 2008, Tata Motors shifted its Nano plant from Singur, West Bengal, to Sanand, Gujarat, due to protests led by Mamata Banerjee over land acquisition.
• Eighteen years later, the acquired land in Singur remains largely barren and unfit for cultivation, leaving farmers without their land or promised employment.
• Farmers like Kaushik Bag and Shyamapado Das, who willingly and unwillingly gave up land, express betrayal and a loss of livelihood, with many now driving auto-rickshaws.
• Locals, including those from Gopalnagar where protests began, feel they were used as political pawns and now pin their hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit.
• PM Modi's visit to Singur is seen as a potential turning point for the region, raising questions about whether it will finally find a new identity or remain a symbol of lost opportunity.

Why It Matters: Singur, barren for 18 years after Tata's exit, now looks to PM Modi's visit for revival and a new future.