Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis lays foundation for ‘Mahajyoti’ Administrative Building; says it will help realise dreams of aspiring OBC students

CM Fadnavis says ‘Mahajyoti’ will empower the new generation of OBC youth through training, education, and self-employment initiatives

Nagpur, Oct 2025 : The long-cherished dream of establishing an administrative building for the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute — Mahajyoti — has finally come true today. The new complex will be a modern, well-equipped facility that will cater to the needs of students and scholars. With the establishment of the Department of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the process of empowerment has gained new momentum. Through this department, a new, capable generation will emerge, turning their aspirations into achievements, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The Chief Minister performed the bhoomipujan (foundation-laying ceremony) for the construction of the Mahajyoti administrative building at the District Planning premises in Nagpur. Present on the occasion were Revenue Minister and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister for OBC, Bahujan Welfare, and Housing Atul Save, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar, MP Shyamkumar Barve, MLAs Praveen Datke, Parinay Fuke, Krishna Khopde, Vikas Thakre, Charansingh Thakur, Ashish Deshmukh, and Sanjay Meshra, along with District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar and Mahajyoti Managing Director Milind Naringe.

CM Fadnavis said that several schemes have been launched to uplift the OBC community, including programs for training and self-employment. To ensure a brighter future for OBC youth, Mahajyoti was created with adequate funding. Today, over 60 hostels for OBC students have been established across the state. Expressing satisfaction, he noted that students trained under Mahajyoti are achieving success in competitive examinations. The government has increased the OBC non-creamy layer income limit to ₹8 lakh, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of the OBC community, he added.

“A historic foundation for educational progress” – Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Revenue and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that thanks to CM Fadnavis’s initiative, the foundation for Mahajyoti’s independent building has been laid today — a truly historic moment. A grand seven-storey administrative complex will now rise in Nagpur, marking not just the creation of a structure but the laying of a foundation for academic excellence, he said.

“An ideal model for education, values, and research” – Minister Atul Save

Minister Atul Save said that the Mahajyoti administrative building will house a library, counselling rooms, training halls, dining facilities, and residential accommodation for 248 students. The building will serve as a sanctum of learning, culture, and research. He also announced that ₹174 crore has been sanctioned to establish a regional training centre for Mahajyoti in Nashik.

The event also featured a felicitation ceremony for successful students trained by Mahajyoti and the release of a booklet titled Mahajyoti’s Success Stories. A video presentation depicting the planned seven-storey building was shown. The welcome address was delivered by Managing Director Milind Naringe, the vote of thanks by Chief Accounts Officer Prashant Wawge, and the proceedings were conducted by Dinesh Masodkar.

Highlights of the Seven-Storey Administrative Building:

The magnificent seven-storey Mahajyoti administrative complex — being constructed through the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) — is designed for holistic development, research, and training of students across Maharashtra. The building will feature two basement levels with ample parking. The ground floor will include a 500-seat auditorium, study rooms, a control room, and a cafeteria. The first and second floors will accommodate offices, meeting spaces, and administrative chambers. The third floor will include record rooms and a canteen, while the fourth to seventh floors will have training rooms and meeting halls.

Built using modern, eco-friendly materials and advanced design principles, the Mahajyoti complex will stand as a symbol of innovation, educational empowerment, and social progress in Maharashtra.