CM Devendra Fadnavis Calls for Establishment of ‘MahaTech’ to Accelerate Future-Ready Development and Technology-Driven Planning

Mumbai : To boost future-ready development, streamline planning processes, and drive Maharashtra towards its goal of a one-trillion-dollar economy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the establishment of the ‘MahaTech’ institution. This initiative aims to integrate geospatial and information technology to strengthen governance and infrastructure in the state.

A meeting on geospatial technology was held at the Legislature office under the chairmanship of CM Fadnavis. During the meeting, Chief Conservator of Forests, Ravikiran Govekar, presented insights on the use of geospatial and space technology in governance. The presentation also highlighted the role of the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG-N), an autonomous body under the central government, and the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC).

CM Fadnavis emphasized the importance of geospatial data in enhancing public-centric and transparent governance, expediting development projects, and improving departmental planning and asset management. He stressed that ‘MahaTech’ will play a crucial role in leveraging space technology for these purposes. To establish ‘MahaTech,’ BISAG-N will serve as an initial advisory body. Additionally, integrating MahaTech with IT systems and MRSAC will facilitate better coordination among various departments.

The Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) has been instrumental in monitoring and managing the state’s natural resources and urban development for years, holding vast data reserves. However, to optimize its utility, CM Fadnavis instructed the strengthening of MRSAC’s Nagpur and Pune centers. He also directed that a dedicated space be provided for the institution in Nagpur, along with the establishment of a modern sub-center in Mumbai.

Furthermore, to expand the scope of the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti initiative in Maharashtra, CM Fadnavis proposed the creation of a dedicated Gati Shakti cell within the Planning Department.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of the Planning Department Rajgopal Devara, Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department Milind Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary of the Finance Department Saurabh Vijay, Principal Secretary of the Information Technology Department Parag Jain Nainutia, Secretary of the Industries Department P. Anbalagan, and other officials.