MUMBAI: In a significant move towards technological advancement, the Maharashtra state government has given the green light to the establishment of the Maharashtra Drone Mission (MDM). This mission, geared towards utilizing drone technology, will serve various purposes, including security surveillance, disaster rescue and relief, delivery of emergency medicines and vaccines to remote areas, infrastructure project monitoring, and traffic management.
A comprehensive five-year implementation plan, based on a detailed report from a team of experts at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay, has received approval. Oversight of the mission’s progress will be carried out by a committee led by the chief secretary. The headquarters of the drone mission will be based at IIT-B, as announced in a notification by the higher and technical education department.
The primary objective of the Maharashtra Drone Mission is to position the state as a global hub for drone technology. The IIT-B report, submitted in October, outlined various applications, including the delivery of emergency medicines and vaccines, disaster rescue operations, surveillance, traffic management, and agricultural uses.
The notification emphasizes that drone operations will adhere to the guidelines set by the Centre’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operation guidelines provided by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The state plans to engage drones of varying sizes, ranging from nano to large, based on specific requirements.
As part of the proposed setup, the drone mission will have its headquarters or nodal center at IIT-B, along with six regional centers and 12 district-level centers across the state. The Mumbai nodal center will be equipped with essential facilities such as a runway strip, indoor drone testing facility, prototype manufacturing facility, charging/fuelling station, hangar, and a control tower.
A member of the monitoring committee highlighted plans for the implementation of a structured system, designated officers, and local-level permissions. The committee is set to hold its inaugural meeting soon.
