Mumbai, March 28 (NationPress) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated on Saturday that it is essential for all government departments to operate on the foundational principles of transparency, strict timelines, and reliability to ensure that citizens can access the benefits of various schemes through a singular platform, aiming for a "Viksit Maharashtra."

His remarks were made during an event held to recognize exceptional performance under the "150-Day E-Governance Reform Programme."

During this ceremony, department heads and service personnel who excelled in this initiative were awarded certificates by the Chief Minister.

Fadnavis directed the Information Technology Department to adopt the concept of "One State, One Portal" to simplify access for citizens.

To address the confusion created by multiple government websites, the department has been assigned the task of developing a unified portal that integrates all services.

He emphasized that ensuring easy accessibility to government services for citizens must be prioritized.

Moreover, a distinctive "Maha ID" will be introduced for citizens, serving as a single access point for all government schemes, assisting in data filtering while preventing service misuse, as stated by the Chief Minister.

He also instructed the Chief Secretary to create a time-sensitive plan to transition departmental operations from a "Low Paper" to a "No Paper" approach using the e-office system.

At the event, the Chief Minister launched the "MahaSarathi" portal, which he described as a comprehensive Data Bank.

This website consolidates all government data, facilitating seamless inter-departmental communication.

Additionally, an Integrated Data Exchange for Maharashtra is under development to assist in planning, implementation, and monitoring, thereby promoting data-driven decision-making.

The state plans to enhance service availability by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including Generative Artificial Intelligence, Chatbots, and Blockchain.

The Chief Minister highlighted the "Maha-Vistar" Artificial Intelligence tool created by the Agriculture Department, which has set a benchmark nationally, incorporating tribal languages and offering essential information about agriculture and weather forecasts.

He urged other departments to adopt this AI-driven model for service innovation.

Reflecting on recent administrative progress, Fadnavis noted that 42 departments were evaluated over the past 150-200 days, resulting in the promotion of around 40,000 officials and employees, thereby significantly enhancing administrative efficiency.

He proudly announced that Maharashtra currently holds the top position in India on the Integrated Government Online Training platform.

Fadnavis congratulated all government departments, participating employees, and service personnel for successfully completing the first phase of the 150-day E-Governance reform initiative.