Projects worth 15,000 cr on cards to make Marathwada drought-free: CM

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Chief minister Eknath Shinde said on Tuesday that reports are being prepared for projects worth Rs 15,000 crore for water diversion schemes from west-flowing rivers to make Marathwada free from drought.
Addressing the anniversary celebration of Marathwada Liberation Day on Tuesday, he cited some of these projects — Daman Ganga-Godavari (Waghad) river interlink scheme, Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari interlink scheme, and Paar-Godavari interlink scheme.
"The primary goal of the state govt is to ensure time-bound progress of Marathwada in various sectors, including agriculture, transport facilities, employment generation through industrial development, and development of infrastructure," he said. The construction of four lakh wells, building of 44 new roads, repairing of existing 1,030km-long roads, and construction of 75 gram panchayat offices are some of the works that are in progress in Marathwada.
Touching upon the industrial sector, Shinde said that the latest investment by automobile manufacturing companies and others at DMIC in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar would alter the face of Marathwada. "By starting the Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express, Marathwada has been connected to the state capital. The development of the 174 km long Jalna-Jalgaon railway route has also been made, and it will offer rail connectivity involving Marathwada, North Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and coastal Gujarat," he said.
Later in the day, the CM visited the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to take stock of healthcare facilities. "Necessary funds will be made available for providing facilities to residential doctors at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar," he said. The CM also assured financial support to the super specialty facility of the GMCH in making it a vibrant healthcare unit offering advanced healthcare to patients.