Gadchiroli to be steel hub, eastern Vidarbha to be steel corridor: Governor Acharya Devvrat

Mumbai: Highlighting the transformational push in Maharashtra's remotest corners, Governor Acharya Devvrat on Monday said that Gadchiroli district will be a steel hub and eastern Vidarbha a steel corridor.

According to him, in the year 2025-26, the government has sanctioned 147 major road improvement projects worth Rs 4,478 crore covering a total length of 1,100 km to accelerate the State’s economic and industrial growth.

Besides, the government approved extending the Samruddhi Expressway to the proposed Vadhvan Port in Palghar district and to the districts of eastern Vidarbha to bolster industrial growth.

The Governor said that Maharashtra is a preferred destination for foreign direct investment and Maharashtra contributes more than 13.5 per cent of the country’s total GDP, thus being one of the leading industrial States in the country

“In 2024-25, Maharashtra received the highest FDI of Rs. 1,64,875 crore in the country which is 39 per cent of the total FDI received in India. In the first half of the financial year 2025-26, Maharashtra received FDI of Rs 91,337 crore,” the Governor said on the opening day of the budget session of the Maharashtra legislature in Mumbai.

At the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2026, the government has signed MoUs of approximately Rs 30 lakh crore of investment with various companies from 18 countries. “It will help in creation of 40 lakh jobs,” he asserted.

The Governor noted that the government decided to implement the Mukhya Mantri Baliraja Farm Roads Scheme to construct farm roads. Under this scheme, farmers will get durable all-weather roads for their farming activities such as sowing, harvesting and transporting agricultural produce to the market.

Devvrat said the government implemented the Green Maharashtra, Prosperous Maharashtra people’s campaign in 2025 to increase tree cover in the State. The campaign aims to plant 10 crore trees in the State. Accordingly, about 9 crore 88 lakh trees have been planted under this campaign, he added.

The Governor pointed out that the government gave administrative approval of approximately Rs 3,661 crore for the development plans of

Ashtavinayak Ganapati Temples, Shri Kshetra Tuljabhavani Devi Temple, Shri Kshetra Jotiba Mandir, Punyashlok Ahilya Devi Holkar memorial site at Mauje Chaundi, District Ahilyanagar, Shri Kshetra Trimbakeshwar, District Nashik,

Shri Karveer Niwasini Mahalaxmi Ambabai Devasthan premises in Kolhapur city and Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar.

He also informed that the government has enacted the Kumbh Mela Authority by enacting the Act to ensure smooth and well- organized arrangements for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027–28. This Authority will plan and manage important services such as transport, healthcare, water supply and security for pilgrims, he said.