Maharashtra has excellent infrastructural facilities to play a key role in the growth of its industrial units and promote overall development of the economy.

It has made infrastructure development in the State as the area of key focus. It is well-connected by roadways, railways, waterways and airways. The power supply in the State is one of the most stable and reliable in the country. The State has also an excellent telecommunication network. All these services helps to link the State effectively with the rest of the country and with the world-cities. As a result, the Government of Maharashtra has been undertaking several infrastructural projects, from time to time, in order to attract large investments into the State.

Roadways

The total length of roads in the State is 2.29 lakh km, consisting of 4,367 km of National Highways; 33,406 km of State Highways; 48,824 km of major district roads, etc. Five national highways connect the State with Delhi, Calcutta, Allahabad, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. The State has an extensive road network, including a six-lane dual carriage expressway linking the cities of Mumbai and Pune.

Railways

Maharashtra has 5527 km of railway routes of, which 78.6 percent is broad gauge, 7.8 percent is meter gauge and 13.6 percent is narrow gauge. The Western, Central and Harbour railway lines connect the Mumbai city to distant suburbs and destinations across India.

Aviation

The State has a total of 24 airfields/ airports. Of these, 17 are under the control of the State Government, four are managed and controlled by the International Airport Authority/Airport Authority of India, and three by the Ministry of Defence. The Airfields under the control of the State Government have no facilities for the operation of commercial flights. At present, International airport in Mumbai is the largest and busiest airport in the country, offering daily flights to all the major cities of the world. Also, Pune airport has air connections to Mumbai and New Delhi.

Ports

There are two major and 48 notified minor ports in the State. Mumbai port and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) are the two major ports, which together provide the largest port facilities in the country. They handle a major proportion of the country’s incoming and outgoing cargo traffic.

Power

Maharashtra has the highest power generating capacity in the country. A large number of hydroelectric as well as thermal power plants have been set up across the State. The installed capacity in the State is 12,909 MW.

Telecom

Maharashtra boasts close to 4 million telephone lines, more than any other State in the country and a large number of Internet Service Providers and cell phone operators.

Business

Overall business climate

• High literacy rate of 77 per cent
• Network of educational institutions
• 12 per cent of country‘s universities
• 17 per cent of medical colleges
• 13 per cent of engineering colleges (344)
• 19 per cent of management institutions
• 169,000 technocrats every year