Make in India to be led by Make in Maharashtra said CM Fadnavis

In the first 100 days of the new government in Maharashtra led by the 44-year old chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, there has been no discernible change in the industrial sector in the state meeting the eye. But behind the curtains, a lot of ground works, preparatory works, studies, interactions with various stakeholders and systems understanding has been accomplished.

Speaking at the 4th Annual Conference organised by FICCI themed “Progressive Maharashtra 2015 today, the chief minister enumerated list of actions on the way to improve the state’s image as the most attractive industrial destination in the country. In a pulsating address to the gathering he stated that the government was readying Right to Service Act similar to the Right to Information and Right to Education Acts. To begin with the government has directed all the offices in the state dealing with the public to prepare a list of all the services being given by them to the public, the time period for delivering those services and the procedure followed. The government has already launched a website “Aaple Sarkar” which connects all the ministries and departments at the state levels. This will be further connected to district and taluka level administrative offices in near future.

Fadnavis further added that all the land records still continuing from the British raj system will be digitised soon. Under land reforms, the state is preparing policy under which agricultural land can be used for genuine industrial purpose without any procedural bottlenecks. Recently the state government has amended the river zone restrictions to support industrial development provided water pollution is prevented.

On labour laws, Fadnavis said that the government was working on labour law reforms and revisiting the “No Exit” policy to make in simpler and also take care of adequate compensation to workers losing employment under any circumstances. He also observed that more than 50% of population in the state is under 25 years of age. And it is the responsibility of the government to provide all sources of livelihood for these youths. While employment is expanding in the informal sector in Maharashtra, the chief ministry reiterated the government’s endeavour that such expansion should happen in organised sector, through industrialisation and services sector.

The chief minister was also optimistic on development of infrastructure in the state. He stated that all major infrastructure initiatives are put on fast track. Citing example of the proposed 72 km of underground metro project, he said that the project has been cleared and added that the bidding process for the new Navi Mumbai International Airport has been fast tracked and the first flight will take off as early as 2019.

The coastal road project proposed to decongest traffic and allow swift movement of vehicles will be cleared in three months. The Trans-harbour project connecting Navi Mumbai to Sewree is ready to take off since all the permissions are in place. Now it has to only obtain the clearances of union environment ministry.

For Mumbai, Fadnavis said that the government is taking all steps to decongest the BKC complex built by the MMRDA. He also proposed that five more BKCs will be created in the city. The state is also working on making Mumbai the Global Financial Hub, the inspiration the minister has drawn from his recent visit to Davos, he said.

Development Plans are being drawn to create a logistic hub in Bhiwandi area near Mumbai covering an area of 2,200 hectares of land. This will connect all the 4,000 plus godowns in the area to cater to Mumbai’s needs.

On sector specific policies, Fadnavis said that the government was working on new IT policy, new Retail policy and a new Tourism policy with an aim to enhance value addition in the state and create employment opportunities all along.

Before Fadnavis, the state industries minister, Subhash Desai while addressing the conference stated that the new government has pruned the long list of obtaining approvals to set up units in the state to just 25, with an aim to do business in Maharashtra. He also said that the government in discussion with the Railways to provide rail-connectivity to Dighi and Jaitapur ports to the Konkan Railways in order to boost the port sector in the state.

The new government’s objective of ‘Make in Maharashtra’ is to lead the mantra of ‘Make in India’ by example and make Maharashtra the preferred destination for industries and services sector.