Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, assured that the upcoming state budget will be well-balanced, maintaining financial discipline while ensuring capital expenditure remains unaffected. Addressing a press conference on the eve of the Budget Session, Fadnavis stated, “We are committed to presenting a responsible and growth-oriented budget without shutting down any flagship schemes.”
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan announced a massive ₹86,300 crore investment in the 802-km Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, aimed at reducing travel time and boosting economic development by connecting key pilgrimage sites. However, the project has triggered strong opposition from farmers in Western Maharashtra’s sugar belt, fearing land loss. Farmers’ groups have planned a major protest rally in Mumbai in the second week of March, intensifying political tensions.
In a crucial financial move, Deputy CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented supplementary demands worth ₹6,486.20 crore in the Assembly, focusing on rural development, urban infrastructure, and energy. The highest allocation of ₹3,006.28 crore was made to the rural development department, followed by ₹1,688.74 crore for industry, energy, and mining. Key allocations include ₹3,752.16 crore for PM Awas Yojana (rural), ₹2,000 crore for free electricity under the Baliraja scheme, and ₹244 crore for the Pune Ring Road and Jalna-Nanded Expressway.
