In a crucial presentation before the Maharashtra legislature, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar unveiled the interim budget, outlining a vision to propel the state towards a one trillion-dollar economy. The budget, designed to cover the next four months, places a significant emphasis on capital investment, with a focus on key infrastructure projects that aim to transform Maharashtra’s economic landscape.
Ajit Pawar highlighted prominent projects in the interim budget, with a focus on the Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu (MTHL) and twin tunnels connecting Orange Gate to Marine Drive. Special mentions were made for projects such as Maharashtra Bhavan in Srinagar and Ayodhya, resembling Delhi’s Central Vista. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his approval, highlighting the pursuit of land in Ayodhya following a request to CM Yogi Adityanath. Notable infrastructure initiatives include the Veer Savarkar Versova-Bandra sea bridge extension to Palghar, the Vilasrao Deshmukh Eastern Freeway extension to Thane city, and allocations for the Virar-Alibaug multimodal corridor and Pune Ring Road.
Metro lines in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the construction of a jetty at Radio Club under the Sagar Mala scheme, and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 19 companies at the World Economic Forum were also emphasized. These agreements are expected to generate Rs3 lakh crore in investment and create two lakh jobs. The budget further includes plans for a Unity Mall in Navi Mumbai, a leather park in Deonar, and a Marathi Bhasha Bhavan in Girgaum.
However, opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar voiced criticism, labeling the budget as “old wine in a new bottle.” Wadettiwar expressed concerns about perceived deception for farmers, unemployed individuals, and the middle class. He highlighted the fiscal deficit of Rs99,000 crore, suggesting that the state might be heading towards bankruptcy.
As Maharashtra navigates through this interim budget period, the focus remains on the successful execution of these projects and the impact they will have on the state’s economic trajectory.
