Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 6: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday highlighted Maharashtra’s rapid transformation into the country’s premier investment destination, crediting policy reforms and large-scale infrastructure development for creating an environment conducive to fast-tracked industrial growth. Speaking at an investor meet at Mumbai’s Sahyadri Guest House, Fadnavis invited more investment into the state, stressing that Maharashtra today offers "unlimited opportunities."
Joined by Industries Minister Uday Samant, MoS Indranil Naik, and 20-20 Investment Association President Vera Trojan, the Chief Minister underlined that Maharashtra accounts for 60% of India’s total data capacity. With Mumbai at the centre of finance, entertainment, and start-ups, he described the state as the “growth centre” and “investment magnet” of India.
Fadnavis also outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to make Maharashtra drought-free. Through the Jalyukta Shivar campaign, now in its second phase, 20,000 villages have become water-secure, allowing farmers to grow multiple crops and boosting horticulture. He announced that the country’s largest river-linking project—from Wainganga to Nalganga—will soon begin in Vidarbha. With a 500-km network and lift irrigation from the Western Ghats to the Godavari basin, the initiative is set to drastically increase irrigation coverage and water availability for agriculture and industry.
In parallel with infrastructure development, Fadnavis said the state is investing heavily in skill development to create a future-ready workforce. With support from the Centre, skill training—especially in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence—is being expanded through industrial training institutes. He also highlighted job creation in shipping, logistics, and ports, driven by ongoing policy reforms.
Women’s empowerment was another key focus, with schemes like Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi helping self-help groups scale up and modernise. Last year, 13 lac women reached the "Lakhpati Didi" milestone, and the government aims to increase this number to 25 lac this year.
On housing, the Chief Minister announced that four lac homes will be constructed for the homeless by the end of next year, with affordable housing projects underway in cities and slum redevelopment gaining momentum. He pointed to the launch of the massive Dharavi redevelopment project in Mumbai as a transformative move.
Fadnavis concluded by affirming the government’s commitment to quality education. With over one lakh schools in the state, Maharashtra is implementing the Centre’s New Education Policy in full force and has signed an MoU with Cambridge University to train teachers to meet global standards.