Maharashtra

Maharashtra's economy projected to grow 7.9% in 2025-26: Economic Survey

Maharashtra's economy is expected to grow at 7.9 per cent in 2025-26, slightly higher than the projected 7.4 per cent growth of the national economy, according to the government's pre-budget Economic Survey tabled in the state assembly on Thursday. The survey said the state's nominal Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is estimated at Rs 51 lakh crore, while real GSDP at constant prices is projected at Rs 28.82 lakh crore in 2025-26. The services sector remains the biggest driver of the state economy, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of the total Gross State Value Added (GSVA). The sector is expected to grow around 9 per cent in 2025-26, led by financial, real estate and professional services, it said. The survey projected industry sector growth at 5.7 per cent and agriculture and allied activities at 3.4 per cent during the year. For 2024-25, the survey estimated the state's nominal GSDP at Rs 46.22 lakh crore, with real GSDP growth pegged at 7.3 per cent over the previous year.

Maharashtra posts slowest GSDP growth among four largest state economies

Maharashtra has recorded the slowest pace of economic growth among India's big four states in the past four years, even as it remains the country's largest state economy with a projected GSDP of Rs 42,67,771 crore in 2024-25. In the post-COVID period, the state's GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) grew by nearly 43 per cent between 2021-22 and 2024-25, trailing Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu in growth rate, according to official figures. In absolute terms, however, Maharashtra leads the four states by a wide margin. Karnataka, the fastest-growing among the four, posted a near-65 per cent rise in GSDP over the same period. Maharashtra's growth rate lags Karnataka's by more than 20 percentage points. Karnataka's GSDP was projected to climb from Rs 17,02,227 crore in 2021-22. However, it was projected to grow to Rs 28,09,063 crore in 2024-25, showing a sharp rise in its gross state domestic product. The southern state's technology and services sectors, anchored in Bengaluru, have

Maharashtra transporters call stir, indefinite strike against e-challans

Transporters across Maharashtra have announced a statewide "chakka jam" from Thursday to protest against e-challans and other issues faced by the sector, and an indefinite strike from midnight. After the last round of negotiations held at the Maharashtra Transport Commissioner's office on Wednesday evening remained inconclusive, the Maharashtra Transport Action Committee (M-TAC) said that it would go ahead with the strike. According to M-TAC representatives, transporters will stage protests at Azad Maidan in Mumbai and outside the Regional Transport Office (RTO) premises in other parts of the state before going on strike from midnight. M-TAC said school buses, contract carriage buses, private buses and commercial vehicles, including trucks, tempos, taxis and tankers, would remain off the roads during the indefinite agitation. The transporters have also threatened to bring their vehicles to protest sites. Anil Garg, a leader of the School Bus Owners Association, had said on Wednesda

Maharashtra takes private route to revive sick cooperative sugar mills

Policy allows establishment of sugarcane byproduct processing projects through private investors

MSRTC hopes to earn ₹250 cr through advertising over 5 years, says minister

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will shore up its revenue through advertising and earn more than Rs 250 crore over the next five years, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday. The move aims to transform the state's iconic 'Lal Pari' (red buses) from a primary transport utility into a significant revenue-generating engine, the MSRTC chairman said during the 310th Board of Directors meeting held at the MSRTC headquarters. According to a release issued by the MSRTC on Tuesday, Sarnaik stated that an ambitious plan has been finalised to leverage the corporation's massive footprint. "The ST Corporation has 251 depots and more than 610 bus stands spread across every corner of Maharashtra. With a fleet of about 12,000 buses transporting 50 to 55 lakh passengers daily, this is a golden opportunity for advertisers," the minister said. As the fleet expands, daily ridership is expected to touch the 1-crore mark, significantly increasing the valuation of ...

Maharashtra sets up WhatsApp helpline for citizens stranded in West Asia

The Maharashtra government has launched an emergency WhatsApp helpline for hundreds of state residents stranded in the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, officials said on Tuesday. According to officials, several hundred people from Maharashtra are stranded in the Middle East due to airspace closure caused by the Iran war, though all are safe. The Chief Minister's office, in a post on X, said that CM Devendra Fadnavis is personally monitoring the situation and is in constant contact with various agencies. He is also coordinating regularly with the Central government, which is extending all possible assistance, while Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan has been tasked with coordination efforts. The CMO further stated that the state government, in coordination with the Indian People's Forum in Dubai, has issued a WhatsApp helpline number +971 50 365 4357 for stranded citizens who require assistance. US President Donald Trump has said that the heavy and pinpoint ..

Toxic gas leaks from Palghar chemical unit; 458 persons evacuated

Oleum (fuming sulphuric acid) gas leaked from a chemical unit in an industrial belt in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Monday afternoon, resulting in the evacuation of 458 persons, while some experienced minor eye irritation, officials said. The toxic gas leaked from the unit of Bhageria Chemicals Company (formerly known as Zenith Chemicals) located in MIDC D-Zone area, prompting swift response from the district administration and emergency services, they said. According to District Collector and chief of the District Disaster Management Authority, Dr Indu Rani Jakhar, the incident occurred at around 2 pm at the company situated near Salwad and Pasthal villages in the industrial belt. "As soon as information about the incident was received, the local administration, fire brigade, police department and disaster management machinery immediately rushed to the spot," Jakhar said in a press release issued by the District Disaster Management Authority. As a precautionary measure, ...

Nagpur factory blast: Nine directors of explosives company arrested

Police have arrested nine directors of an explosives manufacturing company in Maharashtra's Nagpur district where a blast claimed the lives of 18 persons, officials said on Monday. The Kalmeshwar police here have registered a case against 21 directors and shareholders of the SBL Energy Limited under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, they said. Nine directors of the company have so far been arrested, the police officials said. At least 18 workers were charred to death, and 24 others were injured, most of them critically, in a powerful blast at the detonator packing unit of SBL Energy Limited, a mining and industrial explosives manufacturer, at Raulgaon in Katol tehsil here on Sunday morning. Superintendent of Police (Nagpur Rural) Dr Harssh Poddar on Monday said that an initial report by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and Defence Information System for Security (DISS) pointed to safety lacunae at the ...

WCL finds 8 rare earth elements, critical minerals in its 6 mines in Maha

Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), headquartered in Nagpur, has achieved a major breakthrough in exploration of rare earth elements and critical minerals after it found eight significant strategic minerals in its six mines in Maharashtra, an official said on Friday. Talking to PTI, a senior official said the WCL found these minerals in its six Open Cast (OC) mines -- Adasa UG (underground) to OC (open cast), Makardhokra-III, Durgapur OC, Gauri-Pauni, Mungoli-Nirguda, and Yekona I & II -- recently. The analysis found economically significant concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals of Potash (K), Tellurium (Te), Titanium (Ti), Lanthanum (La) and Cerium (Ce), Rhenium (Re), Selenium (Se) and Zirconium (Zr), he said. Potash (K) has strong potential for fertiliser and agro-chemical applications and Tellurium is essential for solar photovoltaic cells, semiconductors, and thermoelectric devices. Titanium has huge potential for aerospace, defence, pigments, and ...

Fadnavis inaugurates flyover to improve east-west commute in south Mumbai

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday virtually inaugurated the Tardeo-Nagpada-Mumbai Central flyover, a key east-west connecting link in south Mumbai that offers commuters a smoother alternative route. The earlier 130-year-old British-era bridge at Mumbai Central had been declared dangerous and was subsequently dismantled. The new flyover is expected to restore the east-west connectivity disrupted for the past two years and ease congestion on Jehangir Boman Behram Road (earlier Bellasis Road), Dr Dadasaheb Bhadkamkar Marg (Grant Road), Pathe Bapurao Marg and the Mahalaxmi station bridge, officials said. The total length of the flyover is 333 metres, including 138.39 metres on the eastern side, 157.39 metres on the western side and 36.90 metres within railway limits. The carriageway is 7 metres wide, with adequately wide footpaths on both sides, they said. Fadnavis inaugurated the flyover via videoconference, with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde present along

Maharashtra GST Department initiates inspection, search at Lupin office

Pharmaceuticals firm Lupin Ltd on Wednesday said Maharashtra GST Department has initiated inspection and search at its registered office in Mumbai. The inspection and search by the department seeking documents related to payment of GST and claim of input tax credit etc started at 11.50 am on February 25, 2026, Lupin said in a regulatory filing. The company is extending its cooperation with the officials and providing necessary information and documents, it added. The initiation of this inspection and search doesn't have any impact on the company's financials, operations or other activities, Lupin said.

President Murmu to begin 4-day visit to Maha, J'khand, Raj on Tuesday

President Droupadi Murmu will be on a four-day visit of Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Rajasthan from Tuesday, her office has said. Murmu will inaugurate the nationwide campaign 'Saving Lives and Building a Healthier Bharat', being organised by PD Hinduja Hospital at Lok Bhavan, Mumbai on Tuesday. The President will grace the 'National Arogya Fair 2026', being organised by the Union Ministry of AYUSH at Shegaon, Buldhana on February 25. On the same day, she will grace the state-level launch of 'Golden Era of Maharashtra through Unity and Trust', organised by Brahma Kumaris in Nagpur, the statement issued by the President's secretariat said. "On February 26, the President will participate in the Bhoomi pujan ceremony of Sri Jagannath Temple, Jamshedpur, being organised by Shri Jaganaath Spiritual & Cultural Charitable Centre Trust, Jamshedpur. She will also visit the Manipal TATA Medical College, Jamshedpur and interact with the students," it said. Murmu will witness Exercise ...

Ajit Pawar plane crash: Preliminary report due by Feb 28, says MoS Mohol

The preliminary report on the plane crash in which NCP leader Ajit Pawar was killed will be out on or before February 28, Union minister of state for civil aviation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol said on Sunday. Pawar and four others were killed on January 28 after their Learjet 45 crashed some distance away from Baramati airport. Talking to reporters at an event here, Mohol said, "The preliminary report will be out before one month (from the day of the incident) on or before February 28." The incident has been the subject of intense speculation with NCP (SP) MLA and Pawar's nephew Rohit Pawar holding several press conferences to flag what he claimed were irregularities connected to the firm that owned the aircraft and other technical anomalies. He has also raised doubts about foul play. On Saturday, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that Civil Aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu be asked to resign from the Union government till the inquiry into th

MSEDCL to demerge agri biz by April; IPO listing by end-2026

MSEDCL plans to demerge its agriculture arm by April, clean up its balance sheet and launch a 10% IPO by December, aiming to cut debt and boost renewables

CM Fadnavis, Dy CMs pay tributes to Shivaji Maharaj at Shivneri Fort

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary at the Shivneri Fort in Pune on Thursday. The Maratha warrior king was born in Shivneri, located in Junnar tehsil of Pune district, in 1630. Fadnavis and his deputies attended various programmes, including the 'cradle ceremony', symbolising the legendary king's birth and naming rituals, at Shivneri. A large number of followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj gathered at the fort to take part in his birth anniversary celebration. Earlier in the day, three persons were injured after being pushed at the fort amid overcrowding during the celebration, police said.

Govt clears road projects worth ₹11,000 cr in Maha, Gujarat and Telangana

The government has approved road projects worth more than Rs 11,000 crore in Maharashtra, Telangana and Gujarat, according to official statements. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday approved the rehabilitation and upgradation of the Ghoti-Trimbak (Mokhada)-Jawhar-Manor-Palghar section of NH-160A in Maharashtra at a total capital cost of Rs 3,320.38 crore. The region west of Nashik, particularly around Ambad and Satpur, hosts a dense cluster of industrial units developed by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. This generates significant freight traffic, the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said in a statement on Saturday. The CCEA approved the rehabilitation and upgradation of the 154.635 km section of NH-160A in Maharashtra on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, MoRTH said. The project has been proposed in line with the PM GatiShakti principles and will connect 6 PM GatiShakti Economic Nodes, 01 Social Nodes and 8 Logist

Budget 2026 to boost infra, industry growth in Maharashtra: Piyush Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday asserted that Maharashtra will be among the biggest beneficiaries of the Union Budget 2026-27, citing provisions made for infrastructure, railways and industry, which will have a direct impact on the state's growth. Speaking to reporters here about the Union Budget, the commerce and industry minister said Mumbai and Navi Mumbai are major destinations for data centres as subsea cables land there, which would attract foreign direct investment and generate employment. "The budget provides Rs 12.21 lakh crore for infrastructure development. Projects such as Vadhawan Port, the new airport and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will benefit Maharashtra. A rupee spent on infrastructure gives a return of Rs 3 to Rs 3.5. This will boost economic growth and reduce logistic costs," he said. He pointed out that the budget focuses on the MSME and manufacturing sectors through credit guarantee schemes, renewable energy use and expansion of cloud services. Goyal s

Maharashtra Dy CM Sunetra Pawar takes charge, attends cabinet meeting

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday assumed her ministerial duties at the state secretariat Mantralaya, 13 days after the death of her husband and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. She was accompanied by senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders and her elder son Parth Pawar as she took her seat in the deputy CM's office, marking a poignant transition in the state's leadership. NCP leaders Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde were among those present. Sunetra Pawar will attend the cabinet meeting scheduled on Tuesday, the first to be held since Ajit Pawar's death. She will also participate in the business advisory committee meeting for the February 23 budget session. NCP leader Ajit Pawar was killed in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district on January 28. Sunetra Pawar took oath as the state's first woman deputy CM on January 31. She has been given the charge of the exicse, sports, minority welfare and Aukaf departments and also ..

Mahayuti wins big in Maharashtra ZP, panchayat polls; BJP leads alliance

The BJP-led Mahayuti swept the Zilla Parishad and panchayat samiti polls in Maharashtra, results of which were declared on Monday, continuing the winning streak that started with the stellar performance in the 2024 assembly polls. The Mahayuti won 552 of 731 ZP seats and more than 1000 of the 1462 panchayat samiti seats, the State Election Commission said. In the ruling Mahayuti, the BJP led with 225 ZP seats, followed by 165 for the Nationalist Congress Party and 162 for the Shiv Sena. In the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress emerged on top with 55 ZP seats, followed by 43 for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and 26 for Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won a seat each in Latur and Ratnagiri. Independents won 20 seats, unrecognised parties registered with the SEC got 14 and parties registered with SEC won seven. NCP won the Pune ZP getting 51 of 73 seats. The NCP and NCP (SP) had contested on the 'clock' symbol, the elections taking place ju

BJP's Manjusha Nagpure elected as Pune mayor, RPI(A)'s Wadekar dy mayor

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Manjusha Nagpure was elected unopposed as mayor of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Monday, while RPI (A) leader Parshuram Wadekar became deputy mayor. NCP's Shital Sawant and Congress leader Ashwini Landge withdrew from the mayoral contest, while NCP corporator Dattatray Bahirat and Congress's Sahil Kedari pulled out of the deputy mayoral race, paving the way for unopposed elections. Nagpure, a corporator from the Sinhagad area, has been closely associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. She holds a postgraduate degree in management. RPI (A) leader Wadekar, who contested last month's civic polls on a ticket of ally BJP from the Bopodi area, had filed his nomination for the post of deputy mayor. In the 165-member PMC, the BJP won 119 seats, while Ajit Pawar's NCP and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP(SP) together secured 30 seats. The Congress won 15 seats, and its ally Shiv Sena (UBT) managed just one. Union Minister and Pune Lok Sabha M