Maharashtra has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to transform 3,500 villages into smart and intelligent hubs by 2030, marking a major leap towards building a trillion-dollar economy and advancing its Viksit Maharashtra 2047 vision. Officials confirmed that the first phase of this programme has already begun with the development of a model smart village in Nagpur district.
The initiative aims to bridge the rural-urban divide by bringing technology-driven services in agriculture, education, healthcare, and financial inclusion directly to village communities. According to officials, each taluka in the state will soon host at least ten smart and intelligent villages, thereby setting a benchmark for sustainable rural development in India. Satanwari, the pilot village in Nagpur, has become the country’s first smart and intelligent rural hub. The project is a collaboration between the state administration and Indian technology enterprises. Officials described it as a turning point in the adoption of digital and eco-friendly models of rural governance.
In its blueprint, the state has laid emphasis on agriculture modernisation. Farmers in pilot zones have already started using drones and soil sensors for spraying fertilisers, testing soil health, and optimising resources. This not only reduces operational costs but also supports sustainable farming practices aligned with the zero-carbon growth agenda. Healthcare access in villages is also expected to undergo transformation, with telemedicine services ensuring timely medical consultations. In education, the deployment of artificial intelligence is aimed at equipping students with exposure to global knowledge systems, creating a generation that is digitally literate and future-ready.
The MahaNet project, an extension of the nationwide BharatNet digital backbone, has been cited as the enabling force behind this connectivity. With internet-linked services, villagers will be able to access banking facilities on wheels, smart irrigation systems, drone-enabled farming, and digital surveillance for security. Officials emphasised that such infrastructure would not only improve quality of life but also retain young talent within rural communities, slowing migration to cities. The financial commitment to this programme is already significant, with ₹1,200 crore sanctioned for development works in Nagpur district alone. Experts highlight that as Maharashtra becomes the first state to scale up smart village infrastructure, it will attract private participation and technology partnerships, further accelerating rural innovation.
The long-term vision is to integrate sustainability into every aspect of village life. From cleaner water systems and renewable energy adoption to AI-led education and climate-resilient agriculture, the state’s approach reflects a holistic path to building eco-friendly and equitable societies. If successfully implemented, Maharashtra’s initiative could redefine the role of villages in India’s economic narrative, turning them from agrarian centres into digitally enabled engines of growth. While the challenges of scalability, affordability, and training remain, experts believe the smart village model may well become a national template for sustainable rural transformation.
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