New mayor announces skill development university to boost youth employability in Nashik

Nashik: Newly elected Nashik mayor Himgauri Aher on Sunday announced that the civic body will establish a skill development university in the city to equip local youths with industry-oriented capabilities.The initiative aims to address the growing demand for skilled manpower across sectors and bridge the skill gap repeatedly highlighted by the region's industrial associations. Aher said the civic administration has started identifying suitable land for the project, and added that the proposed university will offer specialised courses tailored to the requirements of industries in and around Nashik.
The mayor made the announcement during an interactive meeting with representatives of Nashik Industries and Manufacturers' Association (NIMA), Ambad Industries and Manufacturers' Association (AIMA), and various other industry bodies at the NIMA House. Mayor Aher and deputy mayor Vilas Shinde were also felicitated by the industrial fraternity during the event.Addressing the gathering, Aher underlined the need to strengthen skill-based education for the new generation, ensuring that the youth receive practical training relevant to emerging industrial needs. She noted that the skill development university will play a key role in shaping a capable workforce for both existing and future industries.Nashik is home to two major MIDC industrial estates — Ambad and Satpur — which together host more than 4,000 industrial units employing over 2.5 lakh workers.Responding to long-pending demands from industrialists, Aher assured that two major roads in the Ambad and Satpur MIDC areas will be upgraded with white topping within the next 100 days. Industrial representatives highlighted the poor condition of roads within the industrial estates, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC). Aher acknowledged the issue and committed to prioritising road improvement works to support industrial growth and logistics efficiency.The mayor also announced that NMC will create a dedicated financial provision for industrial infrastructure in its annual budget starting the next fiscal year, 2026-27. These funds will be earmarked for maintenance, upgradation, and long-term development of essential facilities within industrial zones.Highlighting the ongoing civic transformation ahead of the Kumbh Mela, Aher said over Rs 30,000 crore worth of works are currently underway in the city through the municipal corporation and various other govt agencies. She stressed these projects are being designed for long-term benefit and will continue to serve city residents for the next two decades.A "Centre for Excellence" will also be established, supported by expert committees to ensure quality, sustainability, and usability of projects beyond the Kumbh period. Beautification efforts across Nashik will also be intensified in the coming months, she said.Deputy mayor Vilas Shinde assured full cooperation to industries, acknowledging their significant contribution to the civic body's tax revenues. On behalf of the industry, NIMA president Ashish Nahar urged the mayor to introduce a city bus service connecting Nashik city with the Nashik Airport due to rising passenger footfall. He also requested that local industries be given opportunities to undertake certain Kumbh-related works.