16 June,2026 08:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates a dairy products sales outlet of the Warana Cooperative Milk Producers` Union at CSMT Metro station. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Mumbai Metro will provide a major marketplace for dairy products from rural Maharashtra and other agricultural produce, Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday, expressing confidence that the city's metro network would help connect farmers directly with urban consumers.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a dairy products sales outlet of the Warana Cooperative Milk Producers' Union at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Metro station. Dairy Development Minister Atul Save, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Warana Group chairman and MLA Dr Vinay Kore, Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director Ashwini Bhide, and office-bearers of the cooperative were present on the occasion.
Fadnavis said Metro Line-3 has emerged as Mumbai's new lifeline and is the longest single underground metro corridor in Asia. He said the metro network is not merely a transport facility but also a platform capable of driving economic growth.
"The commercial initiatives being developed at metro stations are creating opportunities for products from rural areas to directly reach urban consumers. High-quality dairy products produced by farmers from Kolhapur and other parts of Maharashtra will now be available in Mumbai through this outlet. This will not only provide farmers with better market access but also ensure that consumers receive quality products with ease," he said.
The chief minister added that such initiatives at metro stations would boost employment generation, expand trade opportunities and strengthen the rural economy.
Describing the newly launched Warana outlet as more than just a commercial venture, Fadnavis said it symbolised the self-respect and aspirations of farmers from Kolhapur district. He praised the Warana Group for its contribution to the dairy sector and its efforts towards the empowerment of farmers and women, calling its work a model for the country.
MLA Vinay Kore said the Warana Group collects milk daily from around 1.5 lakh farmer-producers and ensures regular payments to them. He said the outlets at metro stations would play an important role in providing dairy products made by these farmers with direct access to a large market such as Mumbai.
"Along with making quality dairy products available to Mumbai consumers, these outlets will also strengthen the rural economy," he said.
