Shirdi is no longer a small town in Maharashtra; it’s among the busiest holy places in India, where pilgrims from within and outside India throng in large numbers at any time of the year. Shirdi Airport was built and opened within just two years under the guidance of the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to provide devotees with faster and easier access to this famous temple town. This is the only airport in the country operated by a state government. Later, the superfast Vande Bharat Express also started running between Shirdi and Mumbai. On-road connectivity to Shirdi is also wonderful and faster now with the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway. Due to these transport facelifts, the number of devotees coming to Shirdi has increased considerably. On the other hand, the government’s push for urbanization and industrialization in Shirdi and adjoining districts is generating new employment opportunities. Both these factors are causing a ripple effect in strengthening the economy of the entire belt.
Shirdi Development Project | Shirdi Development Plan
Shirdi to Nagpur Samruddhi Highway inaugurated
The 701 km Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway is an ambitious project during Devendra Fadnavis’ tenure as Chief Minister. Rs 55,000 crore has been spent on the construction of this six-lane highway, which the experts say will be the backbone of future development of the state of Maharashtra. The foundation stone of this highway was laid by Prime Minister Modi on December 18, 2018. Later, he also inaugurated the 520 km first phase, between Nagpur and Shirdi, of this expressway, formally named as the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Highway.
To enable land acquisition for the Samruddhi Highway, initially, the government had fixed a price ceiling of Rs 50 lakh per hectare of arable land. However, the price varied due to unavoidable factors, which saw the government paying Rs 40 lakh to Rs 85 lakh per hectare. Fadnavis was able to persuade the farmers near Nashik and Shirdi, who were opposed to the idea of this highway.
Shirdi to Bharvir, the second phase, also started
The 80 km second phase of the Samruddhi Highway from Shirdi to Bharvir was inaugurated on May 26, 2023, by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. In this phase, 18 small bridges, 30 underpasses for heavy vehicles, and 6 bridges, and 23 underpasses for light vehicles have been constructed.
Rs 3,000 crore plan for Shri Sai Samadhi Centenary Festival
The Shri Saibaba Samadhi Centenary Festival and the inauguration of the Shirdi International Airport were held on October 1, 2017, in the presence of the honorable President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. A comprehensive development plan was prepared by the then Devendra Fadnavis government on the occasion of the Saibaba Samadhi Centenary Festival at a budget of Rs. 3200 crore under the state government. The Shri Saibaba Centenary Festival Action Plan Committee expressed full cooperation with this development plan. It has been divided into two phases, with a plan of Rs 800 crore approved for the first phase and works worth Rs 2233 crore proposed for the second phase.
Amendments to the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Act 2004
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Act 2004 was amended under the guidance of the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, wherein the Chief Executive Officer was given special power to spend up to Rs 25 lakh, and the management committee was allowed to approve expenditure up to Rs 1 crore. Meanwhile, CM Devendra Fadnavis had announced a scheme of Rs 36.65 crore for the water supply and sewage scheme in Shirdi on 22 February 2017, besides undertaking other development works worth Rs 36.75 crore to improve the basic amenities in Shirdi city. Also, on July 31, 2019, Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone of the Sub-Divisional Police Station and the police personnel residence project in Shirdi.
Employees of Sai Sansthan regularized
In a meeting held on September 17, the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had decided to regularize the employment of 635 casual workers of Sai Sansthan. While, as per the provisions of the law, more than 10 percent of the donation cannot be spent on the salaries of the employees, Fadnavis took personal initiatives to try and circumvent this legal binding.
Water was finally released from the Nilwande Dam
The Nilwande Dam project, which was inaugurated in 1970 (only to be stalled like several other projects), was finally completed by the BJP-Shiv Sena government in 2023. The release of water from the Nilwande Dam was inaugurated by the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on May 31, 2023. A few months later, on October 26, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the Jal Pujan of Nilwande Dam and inaugurated the left and right canal projects. Once the canals are completed, the 64,260 hectares of area in Ahilyanagar and Nashik districts will get water from the Nilwande dam. Read in detail> Nilwande Dam Canals and Devendra Fadnavis
NAMO Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana launched from Shirdi
On the lines of the Central Government’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, the Maharashtra government also launched the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi’ scheme for farmers. Under this scheme, Rs 6,000 is being deposited directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers. This scheme, which was announced by the then Deputy CM and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis in his budget for 2023-24, was launched by Prime Minister Modi in Shirdi. Therefore, the farmers are getting Rs 6000 per annum each from the state and central government schemes, making it double benefits of Rs 12000 per annum for them. The state government had made a provision of Rs 6,900 crore in the budget for this scheme.
The only airport run by the state government
Shirdi is the only airport in the country built and run by a state government. This airport was built in just two years, owing to the tight follow-up by the then CM Fadnavis to obtain all necessary clearances from the central government departments. The Shirdi airport, second in the country in terms of speed of execution, is not only beneficial for devotees and tourists but can also contribute significantly to the economic development of Shirdi and adjoining areas. The airport itself employs 20 to 25 thousand people.
An additional 1367 crores for Shirdi Airport
The state government approved the revised demand of Rs. 490.74 crores towards the next phase and remaining works of the existing terminal of the Shirdi Airport. Also, Rs 876.25 crore was approved for a new integrated terminal building, the expansion of the apron, and similar works at the Shirdi Airport, as per the cabinet meeting held on February 5, 2024.
Mumbai–Shirdi Vande Bharat Express
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express from Mumbai to Shirdi on February 10, 2023. The Vande Bharat superfast train will save a lot of time for passengers. After the inauguration of its airport in 2017, Shirdi got a Vande Bharat, thanks to the initiatives of Devendra Fadnavis and the Mahayuti government.
Additional District Collector’s Office in Shirdi
Ahilyanagar is the largest district in the state in terms of area. The citizens of this district have to go to the district headquarters for revenue-related requirements, wasting a lot of time. Addressing this problem, the state government decided to open an Additional District Collector’s Office in Shirdi through a cabinet meeting held on June 13, 2023. It was also decided to create 6 posts for this office.
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