Mumbai: The ‘Make In Maharahstra’ initiative introduced by the new Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make In India’ programme has received an overwhelming response from all stakeholders, said Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao.
In his address to the state on the occasion of Republic Day, the governor said the state government has set up a state-of-the-art Integrated Facilitation Centre to provide incentives and facilities to investors, to accord faster approvals and reduce the number of permissions required to start new industrial projects.
With Maharashtra remaining the most favoured state for both foreign and domestic investment, he said, “My government will be working with the motto Minimum Government-Maximum Governance.” He also said the state has proposed the enactment of the Right to Services Act which will ensure timely delivery of services to citizens in government offices—for which 2015 has been declared the Digital Year.
In order to maintain Mumbai and Maharashtra’s premier position in the country, “My Government has given highest priority to speedy implementation of infrastructure projects in and around Mumbai.” Some of these major projects include the Mumbai Trans harbour Link, the 36-km long coastal road from Nariman Point to Kandivili, the underground Dahisar-Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro, 32-km underground and elevated Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasar Vadavali Metro Project, Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Western Coast Water Transport and Eastern Coast Water Transport, among others.
Rao also said the government was committed to building a world class national monument of Chhatrapati Shivaji off Raj Bhavan, the governor’s residence, in the Arabian Sea and a grand memorial to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution at the Indu Mill Compound in Mumbai.
The Governor also spoke of various new initiatives for water conservation to make the state drought-proof, affordable housing, hostels for girls and working women at the district level and setting up a separate department for skill development and entrepreneurship in Maharashtra. Official Republic Day celebrations began in the morning with the unfurling of the national flag by the governor at Shivaji Park and the event was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Shivajirao Deshmukh, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Haribhau Bagde, Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar, diplomats, serving and retired government officials and people.
Marching columns of the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Central Industrial Security Force, State Reserve Police Force, Mumbai Armed Police, Mumbai Women Police, Home Guards, State Excise Department, Mumbai Fire Brigade, Sea Cadet Corps, Road Safety Patrol, Bharat Scouts & Guides presented salute to the governor.
Floats of various government departments—industry, water conservation, employment and forest—were the highlights of this year’s parade.
