Focus on Holistic Development of Vidarbha – Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates ‘MP Industrial Festival – Advantage Vidarbha’ with grandeur

Nagpur, Feb 2026 :Significant steps have been taken towards establishing the world’s largest Green Steel Hub in Gadchiroli, a solar module manufacturing facility in Nagpur, and Asia’s largest pilot training centre in Amravati. Vidarbha is witnessing rapid progress in both the manufacturing and service sectors. With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mahindra & Mahindra, the automobile industry has made its debut in Nagpur. Through these efforts, comprehensive development of Vidarbha will be achieved over the next five years, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted here. In his presence, four major investment agreements for Vidarbha were also signed.

The third edition of the ‘MP Industrial Festival – Advantage Vidarbha 2026’, organised by the Association for Industrial Development, was inaugurated at the Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University campus by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Chief Minister was speaking on the occasion. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for School Education Pankaj Bhoyar, MLAs Dr. Parinay Fuke, Charansingh Thakur, Sumit Wankhede, Principal Secretary (Industries) P. Anbalagan, industrialist Padma Shri Satyanarayan Nuwal, and entrepreneurs from India and abroad were present.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that efforts to bring the automobile industry to Nagpur, ongoing for several years, have finally borne fruit. Mahindra & Mahindra has signed an MoU to invest ₹15,000 crore in an integrated automobile project in Nagpur and has also made important announcements regarding its future plans. Under this investment, next-generation electric vehicles and tractors for both Indian and global markets will be manufactured in Nagpur. Land for the project will be identified shortly. The company has also announced the opening of a supply centre in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and an expansion centre in Nashik. As a result, after Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will together form one of the largest automobile ecosystems in the country.

For the first time, a ₹10,000 crore agreement has been signed with N-Motive Germany for a gigacasting technology-based three-wheeler electric vehicle project. In the future, this project will be expanded with an additional investment of ₹2,500 crore, with 80 per cent of production meant for export, generating 6,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs, he said.

An industrial policy has been formulated to ensure balanced development of the state, with special focus on regions that currently lack industrial growth. For this purpose, Magnet Industrial Zones are being developed across the state. In Vidarbha, Nagpur and Amravati have been designated as such magnets. Through the Nagpur Magnet, industrial development is being promoted in Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Nagpur districts.

A steel hub is being developed in this region. Efforts are underway to ensure gas-based energy, and in the coming period, the region will be developed as a Green Steel Hub.

Through the Amravati Magnet, after the first textile park, a second textile park is being developed in Amravati. The Amravati airport will be expanded, and Asia’s largest pilot training centre is being established there, which is scheduled to be inaugurated in July this year, he said. Through the Amravati Magnet, efforts are also underway to promote industrial development in Yavatmal, Akola, Washim and Buldhana districts. Expressing confidence that Vidarbha’s development will be driven by entrepreneurs in the coming years, he assured that the state government will extend full support.

He further said that skilled manpower will be made available for industries, railway and air connectivity will be strengthened, and the state government is working with the objective of making Vidarbha drought-free through the Wainganga–Nalganga river linking project, with a significant step to be taken in this direction this year. He also noted that the vast opportunities in Vidarbha’s tourism sector will be utilised for regional development.

Let Us Make Vidarbha Prosperous – Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Expressing confidence that poverty and unemployment across all districts of Vidarbha, from Gadchiroli to Washim, will be eliminated, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that five lakh jobs will be created in Vidarbha over the next five years. He said that an investment of ₹7.5 lakh crore has come to Gadchiroli district under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling it a matter of pride. He reaffirmed his commitment to making Vidarbha prosperous by leveraging its strengths such as iron, coal and manganese resources, along with cotton, orange production and tourism, supported by skilled manpower, infrastructure and modern technology.

Earlier, investors who have invested in Vidarbha were honoured by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He also unveiled the logo of the Association for Industrial Development Youth Wing. MoUs were signed in his presence with Super Metals Ltd., Mahindra & Mahindra Group, N-Motive India-Germany, and GIDC.

Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Group (Airports), Padma Shri Satyanarayan Nuwal, and Industries Principal Secretary P. Anbalagan expressed their views. Ashish Kale, President of the Association for Industrial Development, delivered the welcome address. The programme was compered by Vasundhara Kashikar, while Nirbhay Sancheti proposed the vote of thanks.