Now Reading: Maharashtra sets up task force to push drone policy
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Maharashtra sets up task force to push drone policy
Maharashtra has formed a ministerial task force led by Electronics Minister Ashish Shelar to ensure its drone policy works on the ground. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the move on Thursday, calling…
The Story in Brief
Maharashtra has formed a ministerial task force led by Electronics Minister Ashish Shelar to ensure its drone policy works on the ground. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the move on Thursday, calling for a “policy of policies” that bundles R&D, manufacturing, testing, patents and subsidies. He directed officials to speed up a ‘Drone City’ in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and consider special land incentives through MIDC for two to three years. The state also plans to bolster testing ranges, assist with patent costs, and help drone entrepreneurs access central and state schemes. Shelar added that existing drone firms will be evaluated and given opportunities within the policy framework, and that the defence sector will be tapped urgently.
The Indian Opinion
Yet another state task force, this one for drones, raises eyebrows. Maharashtra’s “policy of policies” sounds ambitious, but Indians have seen grand plans gather dust before. The real test is not the committee room but the ground: will the ‘Drone City’ in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar actually break ground this year? And can MIDC offer land without the usual delays that kill industrial enthusiasm? Watch if the task force meets monthly, not once in a blue moon.
Source: rediff.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
