The Maharashtra government has approved seven mega projects with a total investment of Rs 80,000 crore, which will create 20,000 direct jobs. The projects include manufacturing facilities for semiconductor chips, lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles and a fruit processing unit, all to be set up in the state’s backward regions. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar and Industry Minister Uday Samant, among others, met on Tuesday to grant these approvals.

“These projects have been given investment perks under the state industry policy,” said Shinde.