At the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Summit 2025, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared that the state is set to lead India’s growth story, powered by a robust development ecosystem and large-scale infrastructure initiatives that are drawing significant domestic and global investments.
Speaking at the event, Fadnavis outlined the transformational projects underway across the state — including roads, railways, airports, ports, and waterways — highlighting Maharashtra’s evolving role as the nation’s economic powerhouse.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, a flagship high-speed rail project, is progressing rapidly and is expected to become operational by 2028. A dedicated bullet train station is also planned near the proposed Vadhavan Port in Palghar district, further enhancing regional connectivity. According to the Chief Minister, infrastructure works in Mumbai — such as the Coastal Road, Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link), and extensive metro network expansion — are expected to attract up to USD 50 billion in investments.
Fadnavis emphasised the game-changing potential of Vadhavan Port, which will be three times larger than Jawaharlal Nehru Port and connected by a controlled-access highway to Nashik and the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway. Additionally, an international airport near the port and the development of a ‘Fourth Mumbai’ urban zone are on the anvil.
Highlighting other strategic infrastructure efforts, he mentioned the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the upcoming airport in Pune, and the expansion of Shirdi and Nagpur airports. These are supported by the River Linking Project and innovative floodwater diversion schemes to make the drought-prone Marathwada region water-secure.
In a major policy boost for businesses, Fadnavis underlined Maharashtra’s strides in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rankings, aiming to become the top-ranked state by 2029. The MAITRI single-window portal is already simplifying industrial setups for investors, contributing to the state’s pro-business environment.
Maharashtra is also emerging as a logistics hub, with the journey from Jawaharlal Nehru Port to Nagpur now possible in just eight hours. A cargo hub is under development in Nagpur, alongside another at Pune International Airport, enhancing the state’s freight efficiency.
Further propelling urban expansion, the CM announced that Navi Mumbai International Airport and Atal Setu will anchor the development of a ‘Third Mumbai’. The region will also house an ‘Edu-City’ featuring campuses of world-renowned universities, along with a ‘Health City’ and ‘Innovation City’.
According to Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s solar capacity, which already accounts for 21% of the state’s total energy, is expected to increase to 52% by 2030. The agriculture sector alone has contributed 16,000 MW of solar electricity thanks to the conversion of 3,000 transformers to solar power under the Solar Agriculture Feeder Scheme.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the rise of electric vehicles in Maharashtra, which is now positioning itself as the electric vehicle capital of India. Reforms in public transportation and widespread EV adoption are helping the state transition to a sustainable mobility future.
Source: Social News XYZ
