Sambhajinagar Emerges as India's Premier EV Manufacturing Hub

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was evolving into the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub of the country owing to substantial investment in the field. “Because of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi highway and the DMIC (Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has become a preferred destination for investment. Many large industries are exiting other states to invest in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar,” he said.

Addressing the official function of the Marathwada Liberation Day event, Fadnavis observed that his forecast of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and neighbouring Jalna, together with the DMIC corridor, turning into an industrial hotspot was coming true.

Marking six years since its inception, the Aurangabad Industrial City (Auric), a planned greenfield industrial zone at Shendra-Bidkin near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as part of the DMIC, has drawn prospective investments exceeding Rs 71,000 crore. Several leading EV producers have put money into Auric, which could create more than 62,000 direct and indirect jobs.

In his address, Fadnavis also announced that a number of water diversion projects benefiting Marathwada would begin within the next six months, with detailed project reports (DPRs) to be finalised by Dec. “The water from the Krishna basin has been brought to Marathwada. Now, in the second phase, we will channel the floodwater of Sangli and Kolhapur up to Ujani and convey it to Marathwada. Along with that, we will also bring 54 TMC water from the basin of the Ulhas river to Marathwada,” the CM said.

He added, “DPRs of these works will be ready by December, and after that, we will issue work tenders in Jan-Feb, followed by the actual commencement of the work in the next six months. Therefore, the drought in Marathwada should become a thing of the past.”

Fadnavis also denied assertions that the last cabinet meeting held exclusively for Marathwada produced no outcomes. “Rs 61 crore was given to Grishneshwar temple. Rs 541 crore was provided for Tuljabhavani temple. Aundha Nagnath temple development plan was approved. A total of 94 buses were given to Marathwada under the Manav Vikas programme. About 115 buses were given to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. A work order was issued in June for installing ITMS (Intelligent Traffic Management System) on nine highways. A total of 916 anganwadis have been initiated, and 26,500 new self-help groups were formed, involving 2.70 lakh women,” Fadnavis said.

He added, “Around Rs 95 crore was disbursed under the Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Adarsh School Scheme. A total of Rs 253 crore was earmarked for various monuments and temples. Road works worth Rs 3,121 crore have been launched and are underway. Out of 4 lakh irrigation wells, about 30,000 have been completed, and work is ongoing for another 1.1 lakh wells.”

Meanwhile, flag-hoisting and other commemorative activities for Marathwada Liberation Day were held at various government and educational institutions in the city and the region. At an event at Saraswati Bhuvan Education Society (SBES), Justice (Retd) Ravindra Borde of Bombay High Court unveiled a logo that grants free access to a special series of audio content themed on the Marathwada Liberation Movement.

During his visit, Fadnavis also inaugurated the state-level Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan at Kingao village of Phulambri taluka. The campaign seeks to transform 28,000 gram panchayats and 40,000 villages in the state into model villages. “The campaign will be implemented to ensure that no villager is deprived of the benefits of all the schemes of Centre and state govt,” the CM said.