Nashik city, the wine capital and a prominent pilgrimage destination that also boasts its scenic environment, lacked in development due to apathy and negligence of the ruling political parties in the local body and the state. But, as the assembly election in 2014 changed the fortune of the state, Nashik and its adjoining areas saw an upward turn in their development graphs. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela of 2015-16 provided thrust for an elaborate Nashik development plan on this occasion. The new Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, allocated a fund of about Rs 2500 crore, forming an apex committee under his chairmanship for organizing this major religious event. However, there have been more development initiatives for the Nashik region by the Fadnavis government, including the projects under the ‘Nashik Smart City’ program, the Nashik Metro under MahaMetro, the Pune-Nashik train service, the Funicular Trolley Ropeway, a special court and a police academy in the city, helping the local industries to flourish, and more. The Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Highway is also considered a vital factor for the economic and other developments of Nashik city and its surrounding areas. The first phase, between Nagpur and Shirdi, and the second phase, between Shirdi and Bharvir, are complete and inaugurated. Once the highway is complete, faster and improved road connectivity will help Nashik get many investment proposals. In all, it points to Devendra Fadnavis’ resolve to reshape Nashik as a modern city while maintaining its natural beauty and identity as a major pilgrimage site. Greater Nashik, under the NMRDA, is the next fastest development zone in the state, after Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. Considering the imminent need, the Fadnavis government has decided to implement a rapid transit system, which will be an affordable, pollution-free, green-energy-motivated, and reliable public transport system.
Nashik Vikas Yojana | Nashik City Development Plan
The country’s first high-speed, tire-based elevated transport project
The country’s first high-speed, tire-based, elevated RTS project called ‘Metro Neo’ is all set to be implemented in Nashik. The project was approved in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on August 28, 2019. It includes a 33-kilometer main line and a 26-kilometer supplementary line. With both electricity and battery systems used in Metro Neo, it will be a unique project in the country. The estimated cost of the entire project is about Rs 2,100 crore, and it will be jointly borne by the Central and State Governments, Nashik Municipal Corporation, CIDCO, and MIDC. The Finance Minister had announced a financial provision of Rs 2,092 crore for this project in the Union Budget 2021.
In the 2019 elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena came to power in the state. The new government stalled the Nashik Metro Neo project, like most other developmental projects of Devendra Fadnavis. And as there was no follow-up or interest shown by the MVA government, the central government also stopped taking any action on the same. After coming back to power as the Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis submitted a new proposal to the central government in April 2023, requesting its permission for the state government to construct a 10.44 km stretch of Metro Neo corridor, from Nashik Road to CBS, on a pilot basis.
Approval for Nashik Metro
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced the launch of Metro in Nashik in a meeting at the Divisional Commissionerate on October 5, 2018. Accordingly, the task of surveying for the metro in Nashik city was given to CIDCO and MahaMetro. The survey report revealed that there won’t be a sufficient number of passengers to justify metro rail in Nashik. Therefore, MahaMetro recommended running an ‘Elevated Tire-based Metro’ instead of the regular Metro in Nashik. So, before starting such a service, the state government gave the task of surveying for the said ‘Elevated Tire-based Metro’ to the Delhi-based RITES Ltd. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis named this ‘Elevated Tire-based Metro’ project ‘Metro Neo.’
Nashik Metro Neo
The Nashik Metro Neo is the metro project in Nashik city, which is a trolley bus system with overhead electric traction and rubber tires. In simple terms, Neo Metro will have rubber tires instead of metal wheels like standard metro coaches. The name ‘Metro Neo’ was coined by CM Fadnavis and is seen as a low-cost rapid transit system solution for smaller cities where the demand for passenger capacity would be 5000 to 15000 per hour.
Pune-Nashik direct train service
Pune and Nashik, two important cities, are not yet connected directly by rail. The central government has accepted the state government’s proposal to connect these two cities by rail and has approved a fund of Rs 2500 crore for this route. The work on this semi-high-speed train line, including the land acquisition, has started. Besides ferrying passengers, this train will also transport goods, creating a new economic corridor for the progress of both cities.
Budget of 2500 crores for Simhastha Kumbh Mela of 2015-16
An apex committee was formed under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela held in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar in 2015-16. The Chief Minister also made a provision of Rs 2500 crores for this Kumbh Mela. At the same time, detailed planning was done through 22 departments to provide water, electricity, accommodation, security, and transport facilities at the Kumbh Mela.
Implementation of Funicular Trolley Rope-way at Saptashrungi Devi Fort
The country’s first funicular trolley ropeway was implemented at Saptashrungi Devi Fort, which is one of the three and a half Shakti Peethas in Maharashtra. The project was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on March 4, 2018, to help devotees reach the temple, located on top of a tall peak. The project was undertaken in 2009 but lost steam due to technical difficulties and the apathy of the government. However, during Devendra Fadnavis’ tenure, this project was implemented, and the ropeway started operating. The cost of this project was Rs 100 crore. A huge number of devotees from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and other states throng at this Shakti Peetha, where the temple is located some 510 steps up. The ropeway provides convenience to boost pilgrimage and the local economy of this area. On this occasion, Devendra Fadnavis also inaugurated the renovation of the plastic bottle crushing unit and Bhavani Pazar Talao.
Projects worth Rs 2300 crore approved under Smart City
Under the central government’s Smart City program, 50 different projects worth Rs 2300 crore were started in Nashik city. In this, along with purchasing 400 buses, Maha Metro will be launched to improve the transport system. The Amrut Scheme, worth Rs 300 crore, was approved to provide 24-hour drinking water to the citizens of Nashik city. Other projects, including CCTV cameras, citizen information centers, public WiFi facilities, etc., were approved for the busy places, along with solid waste management for the city. Apart from the smart city projects, a proposal of Rs 416 crore was sent to the Central Government under the River Action Programme for the second phase of beautification and water purification of the Godavari River.
Steel furniture business encouraged in Nashik
The MSME department of the central government identified specific business initiatives for seven districts of the state. In this, the steel furniture business was advised for the Nashik district. The Ministry of Finance of the center issued a government decision in this regard on October 29, 2018.
Special court and a police academy in Nashik
From 2014 to July 2018, 1341 cases of atrocity were registered in the state, many of which were pending. Therefore, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved special atrocity courts for 6 districts to ensure the speedy disposal of atrocity cases in the state; approval was given to start special courts in Thane, Aurangabad, Amravati, Nagpur, Pune, and Nashik. Apart from this, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of the Maharashtra Police Academy in Nashik by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The chief minister adopted Nashik to transform it into a modern city
Targeting the Simhastha Kumbh Mela that will be held again in Nashik in 2027, Devendra Fadnavis has instructed the administration to prepare a thorough plan for Nashik and Trimbakeshwar to accomplish the great event. At the same time, he adopted Nashik city to create an identity of Nashik as a modern city and a famous pilgrimage site.
Devendra Fadnavis’ entry into politics was through social work. The reason for his joining politics was not because of any familial connection to politics, but his strong belief that politics has the power to bring about economic and social changes for the masses. After assuming the office of chief minister, he took many crucial decisions for the benefit of the common man. The Nashik city development plan reflects his urge to fasttrack development in the city and the adjoining areas.