WhatsApp Services to Offer 500 “Aaple Sarkar” Services – CM Devendra Fadnavis

WhatsApp Chatbot, Land Allocation, Entrepreneur Museum, and AI Hub Announcements

Mumbai : Maharashtra is set to make government services more accessible and citizen-friendly by integrating over 500 services from the “Aaple Sarkar” portal directly onto WhatsApp, in collaboration with Meta Platforms. Despite online services being available, many citizens refrained from using them due to complex processes. However, given WhatsApp’s widespread and easy accessibility, citizens will now be able to avail of key government services directly through the app. This initiative marks the beginning of “WhatsApp Governance” in Maharashtra, ensuring faster and more convenient services, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Information Technology and Meta regarding the “Aaple Sarkar” WhatsApp chatbot, in the presence of CM Fadnavis, Minister for Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and IT Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar at BKC. Another MoU was signed between MMRDA and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), granting land to NPCI for establishing its global headquarters in BKC. Additionally, an MoU was signed with the Skill Development Department and TEAM regarding the Knowledge AI Hub. An Entrepreneur Museum was also announced to promote entrepreneurship.

The Mumbai Tech Week 2025 commenced at BKC, where Rishi Darda, Joint Managing Director of Lokmat Group, interviewed CM Devendra Fadnavis at Jio Convention Center. The CM shared insights into Maharashtra’s future development roadmap and government initiatives in technology and infrastructure.

Maharashtra’s Push for FinTech & AI Startups:

The government is making special efforts to accelerate startups in FinTech and AI, reinforcing Maharashtra’s leadership in the startup and technology sector. CM Fadnavis emphasized that as Maharashtra envisions a trillion-dollar economy, technology will remain its core pillar of growth.

In the interview, CM Fadnavis highlighted how the “War Room” has expedited decision-making for infrastructure projects. Earlier, initiating a project in Mumbai required approvals from 18 different government agencies, causing delays. Now, through the War Room, all stakeholders are brought together, enabling swift decision-making. This has significantly accelerated projects like the Metro, Coastal Road, and Atal Setu, he added.

Focus on Three Major Infrastructure Projects:

CM Fadnavis revealed that the Maharashtra government will focus on three major infrastructure projects in the next five years:

1. Vadhavan Port: This will be a game-changer for the state’s economy. It will be three times the size of JNPT, with a 20-meter depth, enabling the world’s largest ships to dock. This port will establish India as a key player in global maritime trade.
2. Navi Mumbai International Airport & Smart City Development: Once operational, the surrounding areas will transform into a major commercial and tech hub, with new cities being developed that will be three times the size of Mumbai, offering better opportunities for industries.
3. River Linking Projects: The state is undertaking the Wainganga-Nalganga and Godavari River Linking Projects to provide permanent water supply solutions to drought-prone regions in Vidarbha and Marathwada. These projects will benefit thousands of farmers by boosting agricultural output.

Strengthening Cybersecurity in Maharashtra:

Addressing cybersecurity concerns, CM Fadnavis stated that cybercrimes are on the rise globally, and by 2030, nearly 70% of crimes will be cyber-related. To tackle this, India’s most advanced Cyber Security Center has been established in Navi Mumbai. This center will integrate banks and social media platforms, ensuring immediate action against financial fraud.

CM Fadnavis also noted that between 2000-2014, Maharashtra saw reduced investment in technology, leading many IT firms to shift to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. However, with projects like Atal Setu, Navi Mumbai is now emerging as a new technology hub. Highlighting Mumbai’s future urban expansion, he mentioned that due to space constraints in the city, new urban centers in Navi Mumbai, New Thane, and Vadhavan will be developed to reduce Mumbai’s congestion and create ample opportunities for industries.