Maharashtra Will Lead India’s Economic Development: Minister Aditi Tatkare

Mumbai : Maharashtra will play a key role in achieving India’s $5 trillion economy goal. The state will remain at the forefront of the country’s economic development, assured Minister Aditi Tatkare during the Union Pre-Budget meeting held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

This meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, brought together finance ministers from various states to discuss fund allocation, priorities, and demands for the 2025-26 Union Budget.

Representing Maharashtra, Minister Tatkare emphasized the state’s significant contribution to India’s progress and highlighted the need for special financial assistance for Maharashtra in the upcoming Union Budget. She also outlined a strategic roadmap for achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Developed India” by 2047. Minister Tatkare presented several key proposals for the inclusion of development policies in sectors such as agriculture, health, and infrastructure in Maharashtra.

Key Proposals Presented by Minister Tatkare

Special Assistance for Capital Investment

• Requested increased allocation under the scheme for special assistance to states for capital investments.
• Emphasized the timely disbursement of allocated funds.

Urbanization Readiness

• Highlighted the need to consolidate resources for urban local bodies, anticipating urbanization exceeding 50% in the near future.
• Called for long-term loans to support planned urban development and infrastructure expansion.

Renewable Energy and Energy Storage

• Proposed increased targets and funding under the “Chief Minister Solar Agriculture Feeder Scheme 2.0” to promote solar energy in agriculture.
• Requested an increase in battery energy storage system capacity from 500 MWh to 9,000 MWh to meet the state’s energy storage goals.

Modernization of the Home Department

• Demanded funding on a 60:40 basis for projects like digital forensic labs, mobile forensic vans, AMBIS (Automated Multi-Modal Biometric Identification System), and cybersecurity initiatives (₹837.86 crore).
• Highlighted the need for financial assistance for key initiatives such as the Dial 112 emergency service integration and the Maharashtra Police Station CCTV project.

Judicial Infrastructure

• Sought financial aid for enhanced judicial infrastructure to facilitate faster case resolution.
• Requested ₹3,750 crore for the construction of the Mumbai High Court complex in Bandra (East).

MMR Economic Master Plan

• Proposed a special package for the implementation of the MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region) Economic Master Plan, aligned with NITI Aayog’s vision to transform MMR into a national development hub by 2030.

River-Linking Projects

• Requested the inclusion of state-funded river-linking projects, such as Wainganga-Nalganga and Damanganga-Godavari, under the National River-Linking Scheme.

Minister Tatkare also advocated for several other measures:

• Provision of funds for capital projects.
• Establishment of a “Kisan Special Assistance Fund” to compensate farmers impacted by trade policies.
• Increased funding for ongoing schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Financial assistance for disaster-affected regions.

By presenting these detailed proposals, Minister Tatkare ensured Maharashtra’s comprehensive development priorities were brought to the forefront in the Union Pre-Budget discussions.