Economic Development of Maharashtra - Infrastructure and Service Sector - Class-XI

Following measures are taken by Maharashtra Government for development of economic infrastructure:

• Increasing installed capacity of electricity generation
• Rural electrification, network improvement and programmes for energy conservation
  
• Modified direct benefit transfer scheme to LPG consumers in the state
  
• Metro Railway has started at Mumbai and Nagpur

Economic infrastructure facilitates production and distribution of goods and services for economic development. Following comes under the economic infrastructure:

• Energy
• Transport
• Communication

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is the nodal agency for implementation of Maharashtra Tourism Policy, 2016. MTDC launched the Mahabhraman scheme to bring different experimental projects such as agro tourism, village tourism, food tourism, safaris, tribal lifestyles etc. under one roof.

Education is considered as one of the basic human needs. It forms the backbone of socio-economic development of any country. in the present scenario, India is getting the advantage of highest demographic dividend due to maximum percentage of young population in the country. Education, therefore becomes 'a priority' at the national as well as state level.

Social infrastructure is also one of the important components of the economy because it improves the quality of human life as well as stimulates the economic development. In not only improves the quality but also gives the power to produce knowledge. Social infrastructure includes literacy programme, education, public health, housing, drinking water and sanitation.

Service sector consists of insurance, tourism, retail banking, education and social services. Service sector includes provision of services to business as well as final consumers. It is the largest employment generating and fastest growing sector of economy. 

The core areas for development of service sector include Fintech, IT/ITES, Start ups, cloud computing, electric vehicles, defence, tourism and private universities. Government has also tried to expand the service sector by various activities in Tier II cities.

Internet subscriber base was 5.45 crore in Maharashtra as on 30th September 2017, which is highest among all the states.

Service Sector is the largest employment generating and fastest growing sector of the state economy. The contribution of service sector to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has been highest compared to other sectors in the economy. It was 54.5 % during 2017-18.

Infrastructure is the basic requirement for economic development. A sound infrastructural foundation is the key to overall socio-economic development of the state. This act as a magnet for attracting additional investment into the state and thus provides a competitive edge to it over other states.

To promote the state as a leading tourist destination, the government has formulated Maharashtra Tourism Policy, 2016. The objectives of tourism policy include:

• To Make Maharashtra a leading tourist destination by 2025.
• To attract investments to the tune of 30000 crores.
  
• To create one million additional jobs in the industry.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is the nodal agency for implementation of Maharashtra Tourism Policy, 2016. MTDC organises different events such as Ellora festival, Elephanta festival etc.