Devendra Fadnavis has distinguished himself in Maharashtra politics as a visionary leader who set a new direction for development and brought about significant changes in infrastructure through several major projects during his tenure. While most of them have been successfully completed, some projects are in the final stages with their benefits expected soon. All these projects are cardinal in terms of their far reaching impacts on Maharashtra’s overall growth, which is why many people adorably call Devendra Fadnavis by names like Infra Man, Development Man, Metro Man, or Water Man of Maharashtra. Here we will take a glance at some of his most impactful infrastructure irrigation projects in Maharashtra.
Expansion of Mumbai Metro network
The Mumbai Metro Project is proving to be a major step forward in the city’s transportation system. Before Devendra Fadnavis became Chief Minister in 2014, there was only one metro route in Mumbai, the 11 km stretch of Metro Line 1 between Versova and Ghatkopar. It took the then government 11 years to complete this 11-kilometer project. In stark contrast, Devendra Fadnavis, early in his tenure as the CM, undertook the expansion of Mumbai Metro on priority. He announced several new branches and sub-branches of Mumbai metro, to make it a large network of 337 km. covering all of MMR. Today after 10 years, with many of these lines are up and running and many are under construction, Mumbai Metro has risen to become a significant component of Mumbai’s public transport system, carrying an average 8.5 lakh passengers daily. One must note that during this period, Devendra Fadnavis was also instrumental in starting metros in Pune and Nagpur
Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg
The idea of a direct road connecting Nagpur with Mumbai to bring the flow of development to the vast areas including Nagpur, had been in Devendraji’s mind for 25 years. After becoming Chief Minister in 2014, he was prompt to realize this idea, announcing the initiation of the Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway project in the Assembly in 2015. After 10 years, the 701-kilometer Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg from Nagpur to Mumbai is operational end-to-end. On June 5, 2025, the last phase was inaugurated by Inframan Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The foundation stone of this highway was laid and the first phase was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Devendra Fadnavis acquired land for this highway in record time. Farmers were compensated above market price. This highway, which significantly reduces the distance between Nagpur and Mumbai, has opened a new chapter in Maharashtra’s industrial development. A long cherished dream came true.
Jalyukt Shivar Yojana
The Jalyukt Shivar Yojana is a key component of Maharashtra’s ambitious water conservation, water management, and irrigation program. Launched in 2015 under the leadership of then-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the scheme’s primary objective was to eradicate drought from the Maharashtra villages through the implementation of various water harvesting and conservation methods.
This has been a mammoth initiative, which saw Devendraji implement projects to revive percolation ponds, deepen drainage channels, construct drains, and recharge water sources as part of watershed management. The scheme was implemented by the government in collaboration with the villagers and NGOs. Farmers were encouraged to build farm ponds on their farms to improve water use efficiency. By 2019, the Jalyukt Shivar program was vigorously implemented across Maharashtra.
Between 2015 and 2019, 632,896 projects were completed in 22,593 villages under the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana. This scheme resulted in 100% water availability in approximately 20,544 villages. The program created an aggregate water storage capacity of 2.7 million TCM, and irrigation capacity of 3.9 million hectares. This scheme increased water storage in many villages, mitigating drought. Rainwater harvesting increased groundwater levels of the soil and also increased water availability for self help irrigation. Overall, the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana significantly benefited farmers. Following the successful completion of the first phase of the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana, the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana 2.0 is being implemented from January 3, 2023, to ensure sustainable development of the watershed area through the available groundwater. This second phase will last for the next five years.
Atal Setu
The Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link, or ‘Atal Setu’, is another major project. This 21.8 km sea bridge is the country’s longest that has been a great solution for the massive traffic congestion between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, allowing motorists to reach the new Navi Mumbai Airport and Pune Expressway from south Mumbai within 20-30 minutes. Besides, this has also opened up new economic opportunities in Navi Mumbai and Raigarh district. The foundation stone for this project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 24, 2016, and the bridge was inaugurated on January 12, 2024. The Atal Setu is another example of Devendra Fadnavis’s vision, grit, and strategy, which has made him a standout leader. This project was bogged down for many decades mainly due to environmental issues. It was because of his planned efforts that the central environment department finally gave the green signal. The actual project work began in 2018, but after the 2019 election the Maha Aghadi coalition came to power and stalled the project. In 2022, Devendra Fadnavis again regained power and restarted the project by organizing funds from JICA, Japan. The bridge is 21.8 km long, of which 16.5 km is above sea level.
Jihe-Kathapur Lift Irrigation
Man and Khatav talukas in Satara district were known as drought-prone for years, pushing the agriculture and homes in this area to desperation for water in peak summer. The Jihe-Kathapur Lift Irrigation Scheme has changed this scenario completely by making the villages water-empowered. The project stands as an example of how political will can change a dire situation. The Jihe Kathapur Lift Irrigation Scheme project was approved in 1997 by the then coalition government. However, it remained mired in administrative red tape for many years. Devendra Fadnavis, during his first tenure as Chief Minister, announced undertaking this project. While the work was later stopped by the Maha Aghari government, Devendra Fadnavis, after regaining power in 2022, took initiatives to include the scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (Prime Minister’s Agricultural Irrigation Scheme). Finally, in 2024, the scheme was completed, and water began reaching drought-affected villages in the Man-Khatav talukas. This scheme will irrigate approximately 27,000 hectares of land, including 11,700 hectares in Khatav taluka and 15,800 hectares in Man taluka. This will solve the drinking water problem for 175,803 people in 67 villages in Man and Khatav.
The Nilwande Dam in Ahilyanagar district is another vital irrigation project in Maharashtra, which was stuck in incomplete condition for many years. Devendra Fadnavis, during his first government ( 2014-2019) took steps for the completion of the project. However, the project work was stopped by the Maha Aghadi government and was revived again in June 2022 when Devendra Fadnavis became the Dy. CM of the state. Currently, the dam is fully functional with a 236 M.Cum (T.M.C.) capacity, irrigating vast areas.
BDD Chawl Redevelopment
The over-hundred-year-old BDD chawls in Mumbai became dilapidated and unsafe and had dwindling basic amenities and hygiene for their thousands of residents. The redevelopment of these tenements was pending for decades due to legal issues, making the lives of the residents endangered. Against this hopeless background, CM Devendra Fadnavis decided to take on the issues and clear the road for redevelopment of the BDD chawls. His all-out efforts finally brought success, and the project took off with MHADA as the coordinating agency and Tata Group as the developer. On April 22, 2017, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone for the project. The decision was to provide the residents with decent 500-square-foot apartments in prime areas with ownership rights. Currently, the project is under execution, with the first part already completed and handed over to the legitimate chawl residents. On August 14th, keys to new homes were distributed to 556 families in two restored buildings in Worli as part of the BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project. Devendra Fadnavis’s efforts overcame numerous legal hurdles and other challenges to provide thousands of families with dignified living.
Transforming Gadchiroli into a Steel Hub
In 2017, Devendra Fadnavis, the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, laid the foundation stone for Lloyds Metals & Energy Company’s (LMEL) steel project in Konsari, Gadchiroli. Through this project, Devendra Fadnavis expressed his intention to create a steel production chain using the minerals present in Gadchiroli. The project was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on July 22, 2025. This project has significantly increased employment opportunities in Vidarbha and has also promoted industrial development.
There are many more projects to his name, which were not only initiated by him but completed as well. A look at his political journey will say that Devendra Fadnavis is among the few leaders who have laid the foundation stones of their ambitious projects and inaugurated them too for public use. This is because all his projects have strong purposes and are well planned for fast execution, with himself getting involved from fund arrangement to other critical stages of the projects to prevent any bottleneck. His crucial projects across vital sectors are regarded as game changing when it comes to infrastructure, irrigation, and industrial developments in Maharashtra. So, when people refer to CM Devendra Fadnavis as Infra Man, Water Man, Metro Man, or Maharashtra Sevak, it reflects their recognition and admiration for his commitment to the state.