Page 30 - Maharashtra

Birla Estates targets Rs 2,700 cr revenue from housing project in Pune

Birla Estates, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Real Estate Ltd, is expecting a revenue of Rs 2,700 crore from its first housing project in Pune. In a regulatory filing, Aditya Birla Real Estate informed that its subsidiary Birla Estates has launched its first project in Pune 'Birla Punya' with an estimated revenue potential value of Rs 2,700 crore. The project is spread over 5.76 acres and will feature 1.6 million (16 lakh) sq ft of saleable area including 1,000 flats. The project will be developed in phases, with Phase 1 offering two towers and 500 units. K T Jithendran, MD & CEO of Birla Estates, said, "As Pune's real estate market continues to be on the rise, driven by its thriving IT ecosystem and strong infrastructure development, we see that there is a growing demand for premium homes." Birla Estates has projects in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru.

Maharashtra govt arm plans to raise $1.7 billion via local bond sale

The borrowing is part of a push by the Indian government to overhaul road quality and reduce traffic

Sule compares proposed anti-urban Naxal bill to Rowlatt Act, seeks review

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule has equated the proposed law against urban naxalism in Maharashtra with the colonial Rowlatt Act, which she alleged might be misused against individuals or organisations critical of the government, effectively creating a police raj. Sule demanded that the government review the draft of the bill and ensure that Constitutional values are not violated. The 'Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024' bill, which will become the first law to tackle naxalism in the state, proposes to give several powers to the government and the police machinery in combating unlawful activities. All offences registered under this Act will be cognisable and non-bailable. While re-introducing the bill during the winter session of the state legislature last December, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said the law was aimed at closing down the dens of urban Naxals, stressing that the proposed legislation was not against suppressing genuine dissenting voices. Sule on Saturday

Maharashtra farmer suicides worrying, govt needs a policy solution: Pawar

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday expressed concerns about farmer suicides in Marathwada and Vidarbha and said the Centre should come up with a policy to help cultivators. Pawar's statement comes in the backdrop of the data released by the state relief and rehabilitation department that revealed that 2,635 farmers died by suicide in Maharashtra in 2024. "The information which has come from Marathwada and Vidarbha is worrying. We will collect accurate data from different locations. The Centre should prepare a policy to help farmers," he told reporters in Baramati. On speculations about NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil crossing over to the Ajit Pawar-led party faction, the senior politician said Patil had already given his statement to the media. Patil, the state president of NCP (SP), had earlier said nothing about him was certain, sparking the buzz that he could quit the party. On Friday, Patil met the NCP (SP) chief at an event in Baramati and later said he was not upset an

MPSC exams to be conducted in Marathi language, says CM Devendra Fadnavis

All competitive examinations conducted through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) will be held in Marathi, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said. Fadnavis made the announcement in the state legislative council on Wednesday while responding to a question raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Milind Narvekar. Narvekar pointed out that some examinations related to agriculture and engineering disciplines were conducted only in English. He asked why the engineering-related exams were not being conducted in Marathi. Addressing the query, CM Fadnavis said, "These exams are already conducted in both Marathi and English. However, court had ruled in certain cases that some exams, particularly those related to agricultural engineering, should be conducted only in English." "When the matter was taken to the court, a discussion was held at the government level, and it was noted that textbooks for these subjects were not available in Marathi. This was brought to the court's ...

Those responsible for flawed MSRTC tender will face action: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday promised a probe into a tender process for leasing buses for MSRTC which is estimated to have caused a loss of Rs 1,700 crore. Speaking in the legislative council, he said work orders were issued at the level of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) through "collusion" with contractors, and action will be taken against those responsible within a month. Fadnavis was responding to a starred question raised by Congress's Rajesh Rathod. "The work orders for the tender process to acquire 1,310 buses were issued when the government formation was underway (after the November 2024 elections), a full cabinet was not in place, and neither the chief minister nor the deputy chief minister had approved it," he said. "This led to an estimated loss of around Rs 1,700 crore to the state exchequer. Following this revelation, the tender process was halted, and an inquiry was ordered under the additional secretary of the ...

Activist Damania seeks reopening of all criminal cases against Walmik Karad

Activist Anjali Damania on Tuesday said she would demand reopening of all criminal cases registered against Walmik Karad, the prime accused in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case. Talking to reporters, she said Karad faces multiple criminal cases. "As per my information, there were 16 cases and all of them have been disposed of except two to three cases. Hence, I am going to demand re-opening of all those cases against him," she said. All the disposed cases should be brought before the judicial committee again, she said. "I am going to write to the committee and have also asked (deceased sarpanch's brother) Dhananjay Deshmukh to do the same," Damania said. Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was kidnapped and tortured to death in December last year, allegedly for thwarting attempts to extort money from a windmill company. NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, who hails from Beed district, resigned as Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minist

NOC to be made mandatory for liquor vends in housing societies: Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar also told the legislative assembly that no permission to open new liquor shops has been given in the state since 1972

Did Maharashtra reduce budget for 'Ladki Bahin' scheme? All we know

While the government's manifesto had promised an increase in the monthly stipend from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100, the budget has yet to give it a formal nod

Maharashtra govt proposes 6% tax on EVs costing more than Rs 30 lakh

The Maharashtra government on Monday proposed a 6 per cent tax on electric vehicles priced more than Rs 30 lakh in the budget for the fiscal 2025-26. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, tabled the budget and announced a 1 per cent hike in the Motor Vehicle Tax on CNG and LPG vehicles. The government has also proposed a 7 per cent tax on vehicles used for construction activities, which will generate additional revenue of approximately Rs 180 crore. The state government has proposed a 6 per cent tax on electric vehicles above Rs 30 lakh and a 1 per cent tax hike on individual-owned non-transport four-wheeler CNG and LPG vehicles. The move will generate an additional revenue of approximately Rs 150 crore in 2025-26. Pawar also announced a 7 per cent tax on light goods vehicles (LGVs) carrying goods up to 7,500 kg, which will earn the state Rs 625 crore. The government has also increased the maximum limit of the Motor Vehicles Tax from Rs 20 lakh t

Maharashtra Budget 2025: New airport, job generation, road development

Ajit Pawar presented his 11th Maharashtra budget, making him the second-most frequent budget presenter in the state's history

Over 403K crop insurance claims rejected in Maharashtra: Manikrao Kokate

More than 4.30 lakh crop insurance applications under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) were rejected in Maharashtra during the Kharif 2024 season due to irregularities, the legislative council was told on Monday. State Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate stated in a written reply that the rejections were primarily due to discrepancies such as insurance on government-owned land, municipal land, areas exceeding actual landholdings, and non-eligible crops. "No financial loss has occurred to the government as no premiums were paid for these invalid claims," Kokate stated while responding to a question asked by BJP MLC Chitra Wagh. As many as 4,30,443 crop insurance applications under the PMFBY were rejected during the Kharif 2024 season. In comparison, 2,85,468 applications were rejected during the Kharif 2023 season, the minister stated. Kokate said the scrutiny process had flagged several irregularities including fraudulent geo-tagging of non-agricultural land as ...

MSRDC secures $2.5 bn funding commitments for Mumbai's ring road project

The new road, part of an ambitious infrastructure makeover of the world's densest metropolitan region, is intended to reduce traffic congestion near Mumbai and improve road quality

6 labourers killed, 11 injured as speeding truck overturns in Maharashtra

Four labourers were killed and 13 others injured when their speeding truck overturned in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in the early hours of Monday, police said. The incident took place in Pishor ghat section when the sugarcane-laden truck was going from Kannad to Pishor, an official said. As many as 17 labourers were travelling on the truck, he said. Its driver lost control over the wheels at the Pishor ghat and as a result, the vehicle overturned. The labourers fell down on the road and got trapped under the heap of sugarcane, the official said. Later, four labourers were found dead and 13 were pulled out alive, he said. The injured labourers were rushed to a hospital and were undergoing treatment, the official said.

Scribe held for 'derogatory' comments against Maharashtra minister's aide

Police have arrested a journalist with a local news channel for allegedly making derogatory remarks against an aide of Maharashtra minister Jaykumar Gore, and also booked him in a case of attempt to extort Rs 5 crore from the minister, officials said on Monday. The Satara police arrested Tushar Kharat, the editor of Lay Bhari, a local YouTube channel, from Mumbai on Sunday, they said. Some opposition leaders recently demanded Gore's resignation over allegations of him harassing a woman and sending objectionable photos to her. The state rural development minister has dismissed the charges. Last week, Gore submitted breach of privilege notices against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar and Tushar Kharat, accusing them of defaming him. Gore last week said the court acquitted him of all charges in 2019 and directed that the material be destroyed. The BJP minister had said his image was maligned by raking up an old issue. "BJP's social media co-ordinator and Gore'

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to present state budget in Assembly today

Notably, this will be the first budget for the newly-formed Mahayuti government and Pawar's 11th Budget as Finance Minister

'Budget is for people', says Dy CM Eknath Shinde ahead of state budget

Shinde further stated that the Maharashtra government will continue to carry out similar work for the people of the state in the next five years

Uddhav urges 'Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhavani' as counter to BJP's slogan

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday accused the BJP of poisoning society and asked his supporters to respond to the ruling party's favoured 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan with 'Jai Shivaji' and Jai Bhavani'. Addressing Sena (UBT) workers in the eastern suburb of Mulund, bordering Thane, he also drew a comparison between the current BJP-led regime and Nazi Germany dictator Adolf Hitler. If anyone says Jai Shri Ram, do not let the person leave without making sure that he says Jai Shivaji and Jai Bhavani. The BJP has poisoned our society. I am going to give the BJP a tough time for what they have done to our society, he said. Thackeray also questioned the BJP's commitment to the country, pointing to its stance on international sports events. He said that the BJP previously opposed sporting events with Pakistan, yet India now engages in cricket matches with both Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Sena (UBT) chief also responded to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's recent j

Don't act against women for one murder': NCP(SP) leader's bizarre request

Rohini Khadse, president of the women's wing, addressed a letter to the President stating that women seek to eliminate oppressive mentalities, rapist mindsets, and ineffective legal system in India

Gender equality only on paper, must be imbibed in families: Maharashtra CM

Gender equality is currently only on paper and there was need to imbibe it in families by teaching the value that girls and boys are equal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday. Interacting with journalists on the occasion of International Women's Day, the CM also said he was happy to be the parent of a girl, adding "daughter's are God's blessings" and that he was fortunate to have received it. "Gender equality is a value that needs to be taught from childhood that girls and boys are individuals who needed to be treated equally. Gender equality is only on paper and needs to be imbibed within families, while governments can make interventions," Fadnavis said. On the personal front, the CM said he never felt pressure from society or family since he only has a daughter. Asserting that his wife is an independent individual, Fadnavis said, "I may not agree with all her views and actions, but as an independent individual, she is free. She is often trolled and has