Ahead of assembly elections, Maharashtra’s cabinet greenlit seven industrial projects worth over ₹810 billion, including JSW’s EVs and the Taloja semiconductor plant, to boost employment.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra’s cabinet approved seven major industrial projects worth over ₹810 billion, including ventures in lithium batteries, electric vehicles, and semiconductors, aiming to create 20,000 jobs before the assembly polls.
Out of the seven, the largest projects include JSW Green Mobility Ltd’s ₹272 billion investment in electric and hybrid cars and JSW Energy PS Eleven Ltd’s ₹250 billion venture in lithium batteries. Maharashtra’s first semiconductor project, which is planned for Taloja in the Raigad district near Mumbai, was also approved.
The cabinet confirmed that the approved projects will be located in Konkan, Marathwada, and Vidarbha, regions set for assembly elections in October. The ‘grand alliance’ government of BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP was previously criticised for losing major projects to other states.
Countering the criticisms, the cabinet has highlighted the number of job opportunities each project will bring. JSW Energy PS Eleven Ltd’s lithium battery project in Nagpur, Vidarbha, will create 5,000 jobs.
JSW Green Mobility Ltd’s project, which is expected to manufacture 500,000 electric cars and 100,000 commercial vehicles in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, central Maharashtra, is projected to create over 5,200 jobs.
Furthermore, the Taloja semiconductor project will cost ₹120 billion and create over 4,000 jobs. In the second phase, similar investments will be made in Mahape, Navi Mumbai, with pilot operations starting in September.
Avaada Electro’s solar and PV modules project, including electrolysers, will be established in Nagpur and Panvel with an investment of ₹136.47 billion, creating 8,000 jobs.
The other projects include Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, which will build a fruit pulp and juice facility in Ratnagiri for ₹15 billion, and Pernod Ricard India Pvt Ltd’s alcohol manufacturing unit in MIDC Nagpur, costing ₹17.85 billion.
