Maharashtra is setting its sights on creating a new commercial magnet, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis revealing plans to develop a massive business district centered around the upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA).

Speaking at the second edition of Mumbai Tech Week on February 28, Fadnavis highlighted that while Mumbai will always remain a key business hub, it's time to evolve and create a new urban landscape designed to accommodate the future of commerce.

NAINA, which will be located in the Raigad district, is poised to be three times the size of Mumbai. The city's proximity to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport will make it a prime destination for businesses.

Just 25 minutes from Mumbai's business district of Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), NAINA aims to support a new wave of corporate growth and innovation.

Fadnavis also touched on Maharashtra's ambitious river-linking project, which aims to create 560 kilometers of new river, addressing water scarcity in the Vidarbha region. This project promises to eliminate drought concerns in the area, further boosting Maharashtra’s agricultural and economic prospects.

While Mumbai once missed out on the IT revolution, losing it to cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad due to inefficiency, Fadnavis emphasized that the city is now catching up fast. "Mumbai is becoming more affordable, and most tech industries are flocking to the city," he said, noting that Mumbai's status as a growing tech hub is bolstered by improved infrastructure like the airport.

The CM also spoke about the Vadhvan deep seaport project, which will be three times the size of JNPT, positioning Maharashtra as a maritime powerhouse. Additionally, the state's first M-Hub, a start-up incubator, is near completion, further supporting the state's innovation ecosystem.