Maharashtra has launched a time-bound, high-pressure 150-day programme to draft its long-term development vision.
The initiative, steered by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s Planning Department, aims to lay out a future-ready blueprint that could define the state’s economic and social landscape over the next two decades.With a bold target of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2027 and reaching $3.5 trillion by 2047, the Planning Department has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive vision document that breaks down strategic goals for 2029, 2035, and the final milestone of 2047. This initiative is not merely a bureaucratic exercise—it seeks to capture the pulse of Maharashtra’s citizens, institutions, and future aspirations through a detailed and decentralised consultation process.
In a government resolution issued this week, the Planning Department outlined an exceptionally tight timeline. By June 5, all intra-departmental discussions must be completed. By June 13, secretaries of key departments are expected to have met with sectoral experts, and by June 27, a citizen-led division-level survey—an ambitious participatory exercise—must be concluded. The full draft of the vision is expected by August 15, with finalisation scheduled for October 2, Gandhi Jayanti.
Sixteen key sectors—ranging from education, health, and agriculture to infrastructure, finance, and land resources—will be the focus areas. Departmental secretaries have been directed to lead these efforts by mobilising local authorities, public undertakings, and expert bodies. The process also requires involvement from divisional commissioners, municipal commissioners, district collectors, police officials, and Zilla Parishad CEOs—creating a vast cross-departmental machinery racing against time.
Despite the scale and urgency, critics have flagged concerns about the realism of such a compressed timeline. Civil society observers question whether meaningful citizen engagement or sectoral depth can be achieved in just weeks. However, sources within the Planning Department argue that the state is leveraging existing datasets, institutional knowledge, and digital tools to accelerate the process while maintaining transparency and inclusiveness.Ajit Pawar, who has kept a relatively low profile in recent months, appears keen to reposition Maharashtra as a national leader in long-term economic strategy. “The vision document is not just about growth metrics, but about designing an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable Maharashtra,” a senior official from his office said.
There are also growing expectations that sustainability and zero-carbon goals will be deeply embedded in the final draft. With urbanisation on the rise and climate vulnerability increasing across the Western Ghats and Konkan belt, urban resilience, renewable energy, water conservation, and equitable access to infrastructure are likely to feature as critical priorities.This initiative mirrors the national government’s focus on long-term planning under the Viksit Bharat umbrella and is expected to serve as a model for other states. Maharashtra’s role as an industrial powerhouse gives this blueprint added national significance.
As the clock ticks, what remains to be seen is whether the bureaucracy can translate intent into impact—and if this vision can truly reflect the aspirations of a changing, urbanising, and climate-conscious Maharashtra. The success of this document may well influence how India shapes its state-level strategies for equitable growth in the decades to come.
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