Matheran and Machal among locations under study; Industries Minister says ₹200 crore initial investment envisaged as state seeks larger role in space-tech economy
Sindhudurg: Maharashtra is planning to establish a dedicated Space Park to attract investment, manufacturing, research and innovation in the rapidly expanding space-technology sector, Industries Minister Uday Samant has said. Speaking to reporters at his residence in Vengurla during the Ganesh festival, Samant said the state was exploring an integrated ecosystem for companies engaged in satellites, rockets, spacecraft, drones and allied technologies. Rajapur MLA Kiran Samant and Shiv Sena district chief Sanjeev Parab were present during the interaction.
Matheran, Machal Among Sites Under Consideration
According to Samant, the government is looking for a location with suitable altitude and climatic conditions for the proposed Space Park. Preliminary inspections have been conducted at Matheran and Machal near Ratnagiri, but no site has yet been finalised, he said. Contemporary reports of Samant’s announcement also record the two locations as being under consideration. The proposed park is intended to bring together space-related industries, research institutions, technology companies, startups and supporting infrastructure within a dedicated ecosystem.
Samant described the proposed Maharashtra facility as the country’s first Space Park. However, that claim requires qualification. Kerala already has the government-backed Kerala Spacepark (KSPACE), and a Kerala government publication describes it as the country’s first Space System Park launched by a state government. Kerala formally constituted KSPACE as a government-backed society in 2022, building on an initiative launched earlier. Maharashtra’s project should therefore be viewed as a new state-level space-industry initiative rather than described independently as India’s first.
Maharashtra Eyes Five Satellites
Samant said the government was also working towards developing five satellites for Maharashtra, with an objective of taking the programme forward within approximately 18 months. According to the minister, discussions have begun with companies involved in satellite manufacturing and launch services. He said the proposed satellites could support applications in agriculture, disaster management, environmental monitoring, urban planning, healthcare and industry. The five-satellite plan is, however, still at the proposal and discussion stage and should not yet be treated as an approved launch programme.
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Paris Visit Puts Space Industry in Focus
Samant recently represented Maharashtra at World Space Business Week 2026 in Paris, where the state explored opportunities in the global space economy. The international event was held in Paris from September 14 to 17, 2026, bringing together satellite companies, investors, government representatives and other participants from the global space sector.
Samant said discussions during the visit strengthened Maharashtra’s plans to build its own space-sector ecosystem and explore satellite-based applications for governance and economic development.
₹200 Crore Initial Investment Proposed
According to Samant, an initial investment of around ₹200 crore is being considered for the proposed initiative. He said a company involved in the discussions had estimated that the project could eventually generate revenue of around ₹1,000 crore. The figures remain preliminary projections and would depend on feasibility studies, the final project structure, participating companies and government approvals. The minister said decisions on the location, investment structure and other project details would be taken after further assessment.
Space Fest Planned for February
Maharashtra is also planning a Space Fest bringing together science, space technology, innovation and public engagement. Samant had earlier proposed holding the event in February, saying it could help build an ecosystem for space-tech startups, students, researchers, investors and companies. Reports on the initiative say the proposed festival is being developed with participation from the Maharashtra government and private-sector partners. The programme is expected to include companies working in satellites, spacecraft, rockets, drones and emerging space technologies.
State Eyes Jobs and Investment in Emerging Sector
Samant said Maharashtra wanted to position itself as a major destination for the space-technology industry and attract companies that could create high-skilled employment and new investment.
The proposed Space Park, satellite programme and Space Fest form part of that broader effort, though several crucial elements—including the site, project structure, investment commitments and satellite-launch programme—remain under consideration.
If the proposals move from planning to implementation, Maharashtra would join a growing number of states seeking to build dedicated ecosystems around India’s expanding commercial space sector.
