Maharashtra is nation’s primary growth engine: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the state India’s primary growth engine, citing 8.8 per cent economic growth and measures for farmers, women and infrastructure. He outlined plans for district-level development, river-linking, agricultural power access and global-standard higher education

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday described Maharashtra as the nation’s primary growth engine, underlining its role in building a developed India. Addressing the gathering after hoisting the national flag marking the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the State Secretariat (Mantralaya) here in the morning, Fadnavis highlighted Maharashtra’s economic performance, agricultural welfare measures and long-term infrastructure plans aimed at transforming its industrial and rural landscape.

Highlighting the state’s economic performance, the CM stated that Maharashtra recorded an 8.8 per cent economic growth rate in the first half of the current fiscal year.

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Positioned as India’s largest economy and startup capital, the state continues to lead in attracting domestic and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), creating significant employment opportunities for the youth, he said.

To decentralise development, the administration aims to turn every district into an independent growth engine. Currently, 13 districts have achieved their projected development targets, with special focus extended to remote regions such as Gadchiroli, Palghar, and Nandurbar.

Determined to secure the state’s water future, Fadnavis vowed to eliminate drought conditions for upcoming generations. Through comprehensive river-linking projects, water will be routed to historically vulnerable regions, including Marathwada, Vidarbha, North Maharashtra, and drought-prone belts of Western Maharashtra. Emphasising farmer welfare, the Chief Minister detailed the implementation of the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Crop Loan Waiver Scheme, delivering Rs 36,000 crore in relief to 56 lakh farmers.

Currently, 76 percent of farmers receive agricultural electricity during the day, with a commitment to reach 100 percent coverage within the next year, he said.

The CM said that Maharashtra has become the first state in India to enact the Women Farmer Act, legally granting female agriculturalists formal status as farmers. To align higher education with global standards, the state is expanding “EduCities” to host top-tier foreign university campuses while upgrading local public universities, he said.

Fadnavis concluded by stating that Maharashtra’s progress remains grounded in the teachings of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the constitutional values framed by Dr B R Ambedkar, ensuring inclusive development across every segment of society.