Maharashtra

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 ...

Maha allows BOT/BOOT projects to help revive sick cooperative sugar mills

A new Maharashtra policy allows cooperative sugar mills to monetise by-products through BOT/BOOT projects with private investors, aiming to diversify revenues and strengthen finances

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

Maharashtra govt signs MoUs worth over ₹48K cr with auto, steel firms

Maharashtra signs ₹48,000-crore investment MoUs for Vidarbha, with Mahindra's ₹15,000-crore Nagpur plant anchoring the push to build an auto and steel hub

Mahindra unveils ₹15,000 cr decade-long investment plan for Maharashtra

Mahindra Group on Friday said it will invest Rs 15,000 crore in Maharashtra over the next ten years, which includes setting up an automobile and tractor manufacturing facility in Nagpur. In addition, Mahindra will acquire land in the Igatpuri-Nashik region to expand current product and engine capacities, as well as to support the growth of its Advanced Technology business, the statement said. The Nagpur facility, which will be the group's largest integrated manufacturing facility for automobiles and tractors, will start production in 2028, the group said in a statement. "With these initiatives, Mahindra is committing a comprehensive investment of Rs 15,000 crore over a ten-year period in Maharashtra and will acquire over 2,000 acres across three locations to further strengthen its manufacturing footprint," it added. Once fully operational, the facility will have an annual production capacity of over 5 lakh vehicles and 1 lakh tractors, making it Mahindra's largest integrated ...

Technical snag detected in Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde's helicopter

A technical snag was detected in a helicopter hours before it was scheduled to transport Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde for campaigning for the Zilla Parishad polls in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, an airport official said on Tuesday. The snag was found late on Monday night hours before the BJP leader was to fly to Latur, he said. According to officials, Munde arrived in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on a chartered plane on Monday and took the helicopter for poll campaigning later in the day. However, when the aviation company conducted a routine inspection later that night, they found some technical issues with the chopper and informed the authorities at the Chikalthana airport, they said. The chopper was scheduled to transport the BJP leader to Latur around 11 am on Tuesday, but her journey was delayed by two hours, the official said. Talking to reporters, Munde said that the helicopter was old, but she didn't raise the issue and continued her travel. She said ever since NCP leade