Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, May 7: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said Nashik will emerge as a major growth engine for the state in the coming years, with the government launching projects worth Rs 33,000 crore in preparation for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the ‘Kumbh Udyog Sangam and Nashik Investment Summit 2026’, the Chief Minister said Nashik’s religious and spiritual significance, coupled with large-scale infrastructure investments, would drive rapid industrial and economic growth in the region.

“The development of Nashik will not stop now. Industrial growth here will gain real momentum through enhanced infrastructure, capacity building and investment opportunities,” Devendra Fadnavis said.

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik is scheduled to be held from October 31, 2026, to July 24, 2028.

During the summit, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 13,190 crore were signed with more than 300 industrialists, with the projects expected to generate nearly 32,000 jobs, officials said.

The Chief Minister noted that over the past three years, investment conferences focused on individual districts had helped attract significant industrial investment. He stated that Nashik district alone had received investments worth Rs 31,945 crore so far, creating employment opportunities for around 66,000 people.

According to him, nearly 77 per cent of the MoUs signed earlier have already been implemented across sectors including electronics, agriculture, automobiles, textiles and services.

Mahindra & Mahindra and several other industrial groups have expressed interest in expanding operations in Nashik district, he added.

Highlighting the state’s industrial strategy, the Chief Minister said Maharashtra is working towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy by promoting balanced regional development instead of concentrating growth only in Mumbai and Pune.

He said the Maharashtra Industry, Trade and Investment Facilitation Cell (Maitri) portal has simplified investment procedures by bringing multiple approvals under a single digital platform. More than three lakh applications have reportedly been processed through the portal since its launch.

Girish Mahajan, who also addressed the gathering, said major infrastructure works including airport expansion, railway connectivity and improved transport facilities are being undertaken to support Nashik’s transformation into a major industrial and spiritual destination.

Industries Minister Uday Samant said the government is actively resolving issues faced by entrepreneurs through the Maitri facilitation mechanism.

The state government believes that the large-scale investment linked to the Kumbh Mela will help create a long-term economic ecosystem in Nashik and generate an estimated Rs 3 lakh crore economy in the district over the next decade.