'Need to catch AI buzz early': Maharashtra CM Fadnavis bets big on tech, AI, and cyber security to shape the future

Maharashtra, and especially the city of Mumbai, has evolved beyond its identity as India’s financial capital, and has now emerged as the nation’s powerhouse for technology, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday while addressing MTW (Mumbai Tech Week) 2025.

“Our focus in this regime will be more on technology. We want to integrate more technology into agriculture. If we want to bring sustainability to agriculture, technology is the solution,” Fadnavis said.

The Maharashtra CM painted a stark picture of the shift in crime dynamics, pointing to a sharp surge in cyber offences as the digital world becomes the new battleground for criminals. “I see that we are heading toward a scenario where street crime accounts for 30%, while 70% will be cyber crime.”

To counter this digital crime wave, he revealed that Maharashtra has launched a dedicated cyber security headquarters and an integrated platform linking banks, NBFCs, social media handles, and the entire cyber ecosystem. He added that any cyber-related complaint reported on ‘1945’ will trigger an immediate response from the team, ensuring action within the crucial golden hours.

“AI is changing every sphere of our lives, and we have to catch up early. Technology is something that can accelerate our growth,” he added.

He pointed out that Navi Mumbai now commands a staggering 60% of India’s data centre capacity, strengthening its position as a digital stronghold. Looking ahead, he announced the soon-to-be-launched M-Hub, an incubator designed to provide plug-and-play workspaces, making the city a magnet for tech firms once again.

Co-hosted by the Government of Maharashtra and the Tech Entrepreneurs Association of Mumbai (TEAM), MTW 2025 is set to take centre stage from February 28 to March 1. It aims to position the city as Asia’s ‘AI Use Case Capital.’ The event will showcase AI’s transformative power across industries, from finance and media to manufacturing and entertainment.

While speaking on infrastructure projects, he disclosed that the biggest project undertaken is the Vadhvan Port. He underscored that for the past four decades, JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) has not only placed Mumbai on the global map but also cemented its status as India’s financial capital, handling a massive 65% of the country’s container traffic. However, with Vadhvan Port being three times larger than JNPT and boasting a 20-metre deep draft stretching 10 km, it is now capable of hosting the world’s largest ships.