The Governor of Maharashtra Ch Vidyasagar Rao unfurled the National Flag and took salute from a ceremonial parade on the occasion of 65th anniversary of the Republic Day of India at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Monday 26 January 2015.

Wife of the Governor, Smt Ch Vinodha, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Smt Amruta Fadnavis, Shivajirao Deshmukh, Chairman, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Haribhau Bagde, Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Snehal Ambekar, Mayor of Mumbai, diplomats, senior serving and retired government officials and citizens were present on the occasion.

In his address to the people of Maharashtra delivered on the occasion, the Governor said that the Make in Maharashtra initiative of the State Government, modelled on the lines of Make in India had received overwhelming response from various stakeholders.

The Governor said that the State Government has set up a state-of-the-art Integrated Facilitation Centre to provide incentives and facilities to investors, to accord faster approvals and to reduce the number of permissions required to start new industrial projects.

Vidyasagar Rao assured that the State Government will be working with the motto ‘Minimum Government – Maximum Governance’. He said the Government has proposed enactment of the Right to Services Act which will ensure timely delivery of services to citizens in government offices.

Mumbai Infrastructure projects

The Governor said that the State Government will be implementing the infrastructure projects in Mumbai such as Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, the 36-km long coastal road from Nariman Point to Kandivli, the underground Dahisar – Charkop – Bandra – Mankhurd Metro, the 32 –km underground and elevated Wadala – Ghatkopar – Thane – Kasar Vadavali Metro Project, the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Western Coast Water Transport and Eastern Coast Water transport projects among others.

The Governor reiterated the resolve of the Government to build a National Monument for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj off Raj Bhavan in the Arabian sea and a grand memorial for Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Indu Mill in Mumbai.

The Governor also spoke of the various initiatives of the State Government such as ‘Aaple Sarkar’, affordable housing, Jalyukta Shivar Yojana of water conservation, expediting of MIHAN project, Jijau Hostels for girls and working women at Taluka levels, separate department of Skill Development and Enterpreneurship in Maharashtra.

Marching columns of the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, CISF, SRPF, Mumbai Armed Police, Mumbai Women Police, Home Guards, State Excise Department, Mumbai Fire Brigade, Sea Cadet Corps, Road Safety Patrol, Bharat Scouts & Guides presented salute to the Governor.

Floats of the Industry Department (Make in Maharashtra), MMRDA (Vikasacha Dhyas Hava), Employment Guarantee Scheme and Water Conservation Department (Jalyukta Shivar Yojana), Forest Department (the Green Lungs of Mumbai) and others were the highlights of this year’s Republic Day Parade in Mumbai.