Maharashtra tops infrastructure invesment: NITI

Mumbai: Maharashtra tops in investment made by domestic firms and government entities in infrastructure projects in the country, according to the report published by NITI Aayog. Out of total investment in infra project worth Rs 50.58 lakh crore, Rs 5.97 lakh crore has been invested in the state. NITI Aayog’s report is based on invesments made till April 30, 2017 and work-orders in the infrastructure sector which means actual investment.   

The report stated that Maharashtra is ahead of all other states in the country with 11 per cent of share in total expenditure in infrastructure projects. Uttar Pradesh is ranked second and Union government’s special focus on Arunachal Pradesh has helped the north-eastern state to bag third position.

8,367 projects worth Rs 50.58 lakh crore are underway across the country. 1,097 projects are underway in Maharashtra. The projects in the Maharashtra are worth Rs 5.97 lakh crore which is exactly 11.8 percent out of the total investment in the infrastructure sector in the country.

Projects which are worth Rs 5 crore or more have been taken into consideration. The government or private public partnership (PPP) model projects are also taken into consideration by the NITI Aayog. According to the reports, Uttar Pradesh ranks second with Rs 3.54 lakh crore. Arunachal Pradesh has bagged third rank with Rs 3.17 lakh crore, followed by Tamil nadu with Rs 3.14 lakh crore and Gujarat with Rs 2.90 lakh crore.

According to the report, projects of irrigation, roads being built by National Highway Authority of India and urban development projects like Metro in the state have given a boost to infrastructure investments in the country.

Recently, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nana Patole accused chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of failing to bring money from Centre for state’s developmental work. However, Union commerce and industry ministry has praised Maharashtra for attracting almost half of the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI).