Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, 25 August called on citizens and industry leaders to become “change makers” in accelerating the state’s growth, speaking at a Business Conclave in Mumbai. Shinde outlined an ambitious blueprint spanning infrastructure, climate resilience, affordable housing, and regional equity as Maharashtra charts a course toward a $1 trillion economy.

Infrastructure Push Across MMR and Beyond

Shinde highlighted a slate of flagship infrastructure projects already under way or in acceleration, including the Mumbai Metro, Coastal Road, Samruddhi Mahamarg, and Vadhavan Port. He specifically cited game-changing assets in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — Atal Setu (MTHL), the Bullet Train, and Metro Line 3 — as catalysts for enterprise and job creation.

A 337 km metro network is currently under development across the MMR, with an emphasis on multi-modal integration linking rail, road, metro, and water transport systems. Shinde said these initiatives are designed to convert Mumbai and its surrounding region into a globally competitive economic corridor.

Mumbai as a Global Financial and Fintech Hub

According to Shinde, a concrete roadmap exists to double Mumbai’s GDP and position the city as a global financial centre. Agreements worth approximately ₹4 lakh crore have already been signed for the MMR, which, he said, has the potential to become a $1.5 trillion economy.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)’s strategic partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF) is expected to cement Mumbai’s standing as a global fintech hub, according to Shinde’s remarks at the conclave.

Climate Action and Coastal Resilience

Acknowledging climate change as a pressing challenge for a state with extensive coastlines and diverse geography, Shinde said environmental considerations are now central to state planning. The State Climate Action Plan focuses on adaptation and emission reduction, he noted.

To counter rising temperatures, urban flooding, sea-level rise, and pollution in coastal cities such as Mumbai, the state is prioritising flood control, coastal protection, green cover expansion, rainwater management, sustainable transport, and technology-driven urban planning.

Regional Balance and Affordable Housing

Rejecting a Mumbai-centric development model, Shinde said the government is actively connecting regions including Vidarbha, Marathwada, Konkan, and Western Maharashtra to the state’s growth story. Cities such as Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Thane, and Navi Mumbai are being developed into self-sustaining economic hubs through industrial parks, IT zones, logistics hubs, and employment clusters.

On housing, Shinde said the state’s policy targets the construction of 35 lakh affordable homes for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG) by 2030. The Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Nagri Lokkalyan Abhiyan is being deployed to redevelop existing slums while using technology to prevent new informal settlements from taking root.

Open Invitation to Global Investors

Shinde extended an open invitation to both global and domestic investors, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to generating local employment for youth and contributing to the broader goal of a developed India. Maharashtra’s developmental vision, he stressed, goes beyond economic metrics — aiming for an economy that is modern, sustainable, globally competitive, and citizen-friendly. With infrastructure timelines tightening and investor agreements already signed, the state’s next milestones will test whether ambition translates into measurable outcomes on the ground.