In a significant announcement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has laid out a grand vision to establish the region surrounding Nagpur as a premier global business destination. The ambitious plan, dubbed 'New Nagpur', is designed to become a dedicated hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and has the potential to create nearly five lakh employment opportunities.
A Vision for a Global Business Nucleus
Speaking at an event named "Tarri Poha with Devabhau", which was moderated by comedian Bharat Ganeshpure and actor Spruha Joshi, Fadnavis detailed the strategy. He stated that Maharashtra is strategically positioning itself to capture the next wave of international investment. This move comes as multinational corporations are increasingly focusing on India for establishing GCCs, which are high-value centres that extend beyond conventional IT services.
"The entire world is now looking at GCC. If we want to capture this opportunity, we need new business districts with iconic infrastructure," the Chief Minister emphasized. The proposed 'New Nagpur' will be developed on approximately 700 hectares of land located near the Samruddhi Expressway. It is envisioned as a comprehensively planned business district featuring walk-to-work infrastructure, aiming to be a self-contained ecosystem for global enterprises.
Massive Investment and Historic Context
The state government is committing substantial resources to this transformative project. Fadnavis revealed that a new outer ring road will be constructed to link 'New Nagpur', with the combined expenditure on the arterial road stretch and the business district itself exceeding Rs 11,000 crore.
He connected the renewed developmental focus on Nagpur and the wider Vidarbha region to a historical backlog. Fadnavis recalled that Nagpur was once the capital of the Central Provinces and Berar, sacrificing that status for the creation of a united Maharashtra. He reflected on the city's remarkable journey to become the state's third major metro after Mumbai and Pune, all while preserving its unique cultural identity and social fabric.
In a lighter vein, he referenced a past comment by MNS chief Raj Thackeray calling him an outsider in Mumbai, quipping, "It makes me a 'certified Nagpurkar'."
Pioneering Projects and Sustainable Future
The Chief Minister also highlighted several pioneering infrastructure projects in Nagpur led by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, such as double-decker bridges and integrated road-and-metro corridors. He noted that models first implemented in Nagpur are now being replicated across India.
Looking towards a sustainable future, Fadnavis announced that the city will soon inaugurate a groundbreaking biogas and CNG project. This initiative is set to convert 100% of municipal waste into fuel, enabling city buses to run on gas and eliminating tipping fees. On a personal note, he reflected on his political journey, stating that the most crucial lesson he learned was the value of patience.
The government has already begun receiving expressions of keen interest from international developers for the 'New Nagpur' project, signaling strong global confidence in this vision to create a new economic powerhouse in the heart of India.
