The world is7 getting highly urbanized with an unprecedented rate of growth in urbanization. The continents of Asia and Africa are going to witness maximum growth in urban agglomerations during next 3 to 4 decades. In tune with this global phenomenon, Maharashtra, the State with the highest level of industrialization in India is also registering rapid urbanization. With a view to facilitate orderly development in the State and to make it a power-house of employment and wealth generation, I have given very high priority to channelize urbanization on right trajectory by harnessing natural potentials of the entire State. As a part of this larger picture, we have created a Metropolitan Authority for Pune Region to develop it as one of the main growth centre that we are developing all across Maharashtra. With such centres, I am confident that, Maharashtra could lead the next spurt of economic activity and make Indian presence felt in the international arena.

The twenty first century is going to be unique in the annals of human history and during this time frame; the balance of human progress is going to be tilted towards eastern block of countries, as the economic growth is slated to get accelerated in ever increasing urbanized growth centres in these regions. The land mass occupied by urban population is likely to increase from current 3.5 % to a little less than 10% of the total land. About 8 lakh Sq. KMs of it is going to get urbanized in Asia and Africa with India and China leading the list of countries with rapid urbanisation process.