Action Plan for ‘Developed Maharashtra’; Focus on Reducing Regional Imbalance: CM Fadnavis

Mumbai, April 2026 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed all departments to prepare a concrete action plan within a fixed timeline, with a focus on reducing regional disparities and ensuring balanced development across all districts.

During a review meeting of the ‘Developed Maharashtra 2047’ Vision Management Board held at Sahyadri Guest House, the Chief Minister took a detailed review of the work of various departments and instructed them to focus on effective implementation in the next phase. The meeting was attended by Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, OBC and Bahujan Welfare Minister Atul Save, Fisheries Development Minister Nitesh Rane, Minister of State for Finance Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal (via video conferencing), senior officials, MITRA CEO Praveensinh Pardeshi, and BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide.

Fadnavis stated that while the state’s per capita income is higher than the national average, 11 districts still lag behind. By treating these districts as “engines of development” and bringing them into the mainstream, the overall growth of the state can be accelerated. On the lines of the Centre’s aspirational districts programme, the state has identified 10 aspirational districts and 174 aspirational talukas to promote development at the grassroots level.

He instructed departments to prepare detailed action plans to help Maharashtra regain a leading position in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index, where it ranked fourth in 2018-19. The planning department has been asked to issue guidelines for the first phase immediately, while the finance department must complete financial evaluation of projects by April 30. He emphasized clear identification of funding sources, including central and state schemes, district annual plans, Finance Commission grants, and external and internal borrowings.

Focus on Ease of Doing Business

The Chief Minister stressed the need to effectively use alternative funding sources such as public-private partnerships and land value policies. He also directed timely submission of utilization certificates to secure maximum funds from the central government and clear pending submissions immediately.

Fadnavis highlighted the need for policy decisions to boost private investment, exports, and consumption, with special emphasis on improving the ease of doing business. He also expressed confidence that reforms in the revenue department would reduce the number of pending hearings.

Calling for greater coordination among departments, he said each department must fulfill its responsibilities efficiently. He emphasized the development of a regular monitoring and evaluation system to track progress. Going forward, all new proposals submitted to the government must align with the ‘Developed Maharashtra’ vision, and it will be mandatory to provide justification for each proposal.

He noted that planning done over the past year has now entered the implementation phase, and departments must focus seriously on execution to give a new direction to the state’s development.

During the meeting, Minister Atul Save suggested that the finance department should provide norms to ensure timely utilization of funds. Minister Nitesh Rane recommended planning foreign direct investment based on future growth sectors and also called for efforts to maintain forts with support from the central government.

Minister of State for Finance Ashish Jaiswal suggested that district development funds should be allocated considering the population and needs of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Secretaries of various departments also presented their four-year development plans during the meeting.