Maharashtra to get four defence corridors: CM Fadnavis

Nashik: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the Union defence ministry has recommended setting up four defence corridors in Maharashtra — at Nashik, Pune, Nagpur and Ahilyanagar — an initiative that will significantly boost the state’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.

“The proposed defence corridors will attract large-scale investments and accelerate industrial growth in the state,” Fadnavis said after the inauguration of a defence manufacturing complex of the private sector firm NIBE Group by defence minister Rajnath Singh in Shirdi.

Fadnavis said state govt had submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the defence minister seeking approval, adding that the recommendation has already been forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Security. He said a final decision is expected soon.

Addressing the gathering, the chief minister credited the Centre’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and Make in India initiatives for strengthening India’s defence preparedness. He cited Operation Sindoor as an example of the “bravery of Indian armed forces” and the country’s growing indigenous capabilities.

Fadnavis said India’s defence ecosystem has undergone a transformation with increasing participation of both public and private sectors, enhancing the armed forces’ ability to safeguard national interests. He added that as India expands its strategic strength, it is also contributing to global peace and stability.

The event included technology demonstrations, MSME displays in defence manufacturing, and interactions with industry stakeholders. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, industries minister Uday Samant, and senior officials from the defence ministry, DRDO and other agencies were present.

Earlier in the day, Fadnavis travelled from Mumbai to Shirdi by Vande Bharat Express, citing the Prime Minister’s call to conserve fuel and promote public transport