To prevent double payments for the same project and streamline infrastructure development, the Maharashtra state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has decided to assign unique identity numbers (UID) to all ongoing projects across the state. The decision aims to bring better coordination and transparency to the development process.
Just as the Aadhaar card serves as a unique ID for individuals, each infrastructure project in the state will now be assigned a unique number. Fadnavis explained that several departments often work on the same projects, resulting in duplication and significant financial losses. This new UID system will help eliminate such issues, similar to how the Aadhaar system removed fake beneficiaries from welfare schemes.
The data from the system will be integrated with platforms such as the PM Gati Shakti portal, the Rural Development Portal, and Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Center (MRSAC), among others.
A committee has been formed under the leadership of Central dashboard for comprehensive project overview: Detailed location, Project progress, Specific areas in need of development. CM Fadnavis to finalise its framework.
Key officials who will streamline the system are Rajgopal Devra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Planning Department, and Saurabh Vijay, Principal Secretary of Expenditure.
In addition, the state government has decided to consolidate all social development corporations on a single IT platform. This will allow citizens to access all development schemes and benefits from one location, further advancing the ‘Ease of Living’ initiative. To implement this, another committee has been formed, including senior officials such as Asim Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of Urban Development, and Vikas Rastogi, Principal Secretary of Higher Education.
They are tasked with presenting a report to the cabinet. The cabinet meeting also saw the introduction of the ‘eCabinet’, similar to the ‘eoffice’. This digital system will allow the entire cabinet agenda to be handled through tablets, reducing paper use and promoting environmental sustainability. Fadanvis said, “We will keep paper agenda and digital agenda both for initial days; later, we will keep only digital agenda, minutes and files of the cabinet”
