Govt working with experts on new IT policy for Maharashtra

As part of his efforts to improve the state’s rating on the industrial front, CM Fadnavis on Monday said the government would soon formulate a new IT policy in consultation with experts from the industry.

As part of his efforts to improve the state’s rating on the industrial front, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the government would soon formulate a new Information Technology (IT) policy in consultation with experts from the industry.

He also said the government wanted to make Pune the new IT hub of India.

“Our existing policy has been extended till 2015. A new policy will be prepared in consultation with experts. Several IT companies have got in touch with us and expressed interest in setting up shops in Maharashtra,” Fadnavis said in reply to a debate on the governor’s address through which the new government presented a roadmap for its functioning.

The chief minister pointed out that several cities such as Bangalore had emerged as IT destinations and the government was planning to highlight Pune as the nation’s IT hub. The city already has units set up by leading IT firms including Infosys and Accenture.

Fadnavis also said the government planned to use IT to improve administration and reduce corruption in the state.

“We will soon begin e-governance in the real sense. We have been lagging behind on this front, but we will soon have an effective e-governance [platform],” said the chief minister in the Assembly.

Fadnavis also said the state government would, within a month, formulate a new policy on public-private-partnership (PPP) projects to ensure transparency. Most infrastructure projects being built on a PPP basis have invited controversy over allegations that the private partner made a windfall while the government didn’t get much out of it, the CM said.

Projects fast-tracked
Fadnavis said he had begun fast-tracking clearances for industrial units. Tyre manufacturer Ceat was given a letter of intent to set up a Rs1,600-crore production unit on the same day it approached the government. Permissions needed for the factory were cleared within a fortnight, he said.