Maharashtra CM Fadnavis announces ministerial task force for drone industry

The Maharashtra government will set up a ministerial task force to ensure effective implementation of the states drone industry policy communicate schemes to entrepreneurs and address their concerns promptly Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on ThursdayThe task force will be headed by Electronics Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Minister Ashish ShelarFadnavis made the announcement during a meeting with drone industry entrepreneurs at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai to understand their suggestions and expectations Shelar Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal Additional Chief Secretary Home Manisha Mhaiskar Additional Chief Secretary Finance Vikas Chandra Rastogi Director General of Police Sadanand Date Principal Secretary Dr P Anbalagan and Secretary Virendra Singh along with representatives of drone manufacturing companies attended the meetingMaharashtra to create lsquopolicy of policiesrsquo for drone industry CMFadnavis said there was a need to create a lsquopolicy of policiesrsquo for the drone industry by consolidating provisions related to research and development indigenous component manufacturing testing patents and subsidies available under various state policiesHe further stated that Maharashtras drone policy was strong compared with those of other statesThe Maharashtra CM directed officials to provide greater support for research and development and indigenous manufacturing in the drone sector He also called for financial provisions for research under various policies to be made available collectivelyFadnavis said entrepreneurs should be able to avail themselves of multiple schemes for research development and testing through a unified mechanismFocus on strengthening existing drone ecosystemFadnavis directed officials to prioritise strengthening the existing drone industry ecosystem in MaharashtraHe said that while efforts should be made to attract new industries existing companies should not be neglected The Maharashtra CM also directed officials to examine the possibility of providing financial assistance to existing institutions towards testing costs until laboratories and testing facilities become availableHe directed officials to expedite the development of a lsquoDrone Cityrsquo in the Industrial City area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and suggested considering a special incentive policy for the next two to three years to facilitate land availability for the drone industry through the Maharashtra Industrial Development CorporationFadnavis said necessary steps would be taken to establish testing ranges for the drone industry provide assistance towards patent costs and enable entrepreneurs to avail themselves of various Central and state government schemes in an integrated mannerExisting drone entrepreneurs to be assessed says ShelarShelar said Maharashtras drone policy was comprehensive and had also considered young people and entrepreneurs who were already working in the sector before the policy was announcedHe said the work carried out by existing drone entrepreneurs would be properly assessed and they would be given opportunities within the framework of the existing policyShelar said the state aimed to provide a major boost to indigenisation in the drone sector and would focus on providing the necessary support and facilitiesHe added that the sector would be promoted through coordination among various government departments and through missions and corporate social responsibility initiativesShelar also said testing and range facilities required for drones would be strengthened and that the aerospace sector and related agencies would be strengthened on an urgent basis to tap growing opportunities in the defence sector