Mumbai, September 2026: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appreciated the initiatives being undertaken by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the state in the areas of healthcare, education, tribal development, skill development and climate change mitigation. He assured that the state government would provide the necessary cooperation and support for all such projects.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan, who is visiting Maharashtra officially for the first time since assuming the position of the fifth Aga Khan, met Chief Minister Fadnavis along with a delegation at the Fairmont Hotel in Mumbai. The Chief Minister welcomed him on behalf of Maharashtra.
The meeting included detailed discussions on various social development projects, healthcare facilities, climate action, water management, heritage conservation and initiatives being implemented through public-private partnerships. Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Cultural Affairs Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar, MLA Amin Patel, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Lokesh Chandra, Chief Protocol Officer and Secretary Dr Rajesh Gawande, among others, were present.
Chief Minister Fadnavis appreciated the work undertaken by the Aga Khan Development Network for water conservation and environmental protection in rural areas of the state. He said the positive transformation witnessed in villages through initiatives implemented in water-scarce areas was noteworthy.
Fadnavis said the state government was ready to partner with the network to expand such projects to larger areas. He added that the government would extend full cooperation to initiatives aimed at improving people's quality of life through public-private partnerships.
The meeting also discussed establishing an institutional mechanism for continuous dialogue between the state government and the Aga Khan Development Network. Both sides agreed on the need to regularly review various projects and explore possibilities for expanding them.
The delegation briefed the Chief Minister on a study undertaken to reduce urban heat in the context of climate change. Fadnavis said initiatives focused on increasing green spaces, environmentally sustainable planning and climate action could prove useful for cities across Maharashtra.
The proposed children's hospital, a specialised geriatric hospital for senior citizens, a rehabilitation centre, skill-based healthcare training and research facilities were also discussed. Fadnavis welcomed the proposal to train geriatric specialist doctors in collaboration with medical colleges in the state.
He noted that such specialised healthcare facilities were increasingly necessary in view of the growing needs of the elderly population. The Chief Minister said the government would immediately collect the required information regarding the project and extend necessary assistance.
The meeting also covered cultural heritage conservation, preservation of historical sites, green initiatives and community-based projects. The Aga Khan Development Network expressed its willingness to play a positive role in expanding such initiatives across Maharashtra.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan thanked Chief Minister Fadnavis for providing opportunities for collaboration in various development initiatives in the state. He said the network was prepared to undertake projects in healthcare, environment, skill development and social development on a wider scale in partnership with the state government.
He also expressed the willingness to expand cooperation into new areas for the benefit of the people of Maharashtra.
On behalf of the state government, necessary coordination was undertaken through the newly established departments dealing with protocol, foreign direct investment, overseas citizens and international engagement.
