10 smart villages to be developed in every taluka of Maharashtra

August 25, 2025

Mumbai: In a major move in line with its Viksit Maharashtra 2047 plan and the target of a trillion-dollar economy by 2030, the state government has announced to develop at least ten “smart and intelligent villages” in every taluka.

About 3,500 villages are planned to be transformed in the first phase. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis while inaugurating the Shantavari smart and innovative village in Nagpur district.

The initiative has been implemented by the Maharashtra government and the Nagpur district administration in collaboration with VOICE (Voice of Indian Communication Technology Enterprises) and 24 Indian companies.

Under this initiative, Shantavari is said to be India’s first smart and intelligent village providing modern technology-based services, a government statement said.

“In line with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, advanced technology-based services in agriculture, health, education and other essential sectors have been made available in Shantavari village, creating a model of a prosperous village. Soon, ten indigenous villages in each taluk of Maharashtra will be developed as ‘smart’ and ‘intelligent’. In the first phase, about 3,500 villages will be transformed under the state,” CM Fadnavis said.

He said it is a revolutionary step to make sure that villagers get all the essential services through technology, and mentioned the nationwide implementation of the BharatNet project in line with PM Modi’s vision. With the MahaNet project in Maharashtra, villages will now get 18 services with the help of Indian tech companies, such as healthcare facilities through telemedicine, AI-enabled smart education, smart irrigation, drone-based pest control, banking services on mobile/wheels, and digital surveillance.

“Farmers in Shantawari are already doing soil testing, spraying and fertilizer management through drones and sensors, which has reduced the cost of cultivation and increased productivity. Water pollution has improved and telemedicine has made healthcare accessible.

Artificial intelligence in primary education gives students global knowledge. Shantawari will soon be recognised as one of the most progressive villages in the country,” Fadnavis added.

Revenue Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur district Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that after PM Modi’s initiatives like smart cities and Digital India, the Chief Minister has taken an ambitious decision to create smart and intelligent villages in Maharashtra. He said Rs 1,200 crore has already been sanctioned for Nagpur district.