Mumbai: In a significant administrative reform aimed at strengthening the use of geospatial technology in governance, the Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved the conversion of the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) from a society into a company.
Established in 1988 by the state government, MRSAC has played a key role in supporting planning and decision-making processes through geospatial data and analysis. The center operates sub-centers in Pune and Mumbai and has contributed to a wide range of sectors, including road development, urban planning, watershed and irrigation projects, e-assessment of crop damage, agro-technology initiatives, mangrove studies, groundwater management, and mineral resource mapping.
With the increasing integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, web-based services, and cloud computing into its operations, the government has decided to restructure MRSAC to better align with its evolving role and challenges.
Accordingly, the existing registration of MRSAC under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, will be cancelled, and the institution will be reconstituted as a not-for-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
The newly formed company will have its registered office in Nagpur. The chief secretary of Maharashtra will serve as the chairperson, and a new post of managing director will be created. Existing positions within MRSAC will be retained under the new corporate structure.
The Board of Directors will include senior state officials such as the chief secretary and additional chief secretaries of finance, revenue, urban development, and rural development, as well as senior representatives from the planning and information technology departments. It will also feature representatives from the Geospatial Data Centre in Pune and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, along with experts in geoscience, forestry, and mining, including the director of Geology and Mining, Nagpur.
The restructuring is expected to enhance institutional efficiency, promote innovation, and accelerate the adoption of geospatial technologies across governance sectors in Maharashtra.
