MUMBAI: In an unprecedented move, the Maharashtra cabinet made 21 decisions in its Tuesday meeting, which included the dissolution of the state’s asset reconstruction company, Maha ARC Ltd., and the approval of a Rs 2,000 crore HUDCO loan guarantee for a transport corridor.
The decisions were made shortly before State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare announced that elections for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats in Maharashtra are set for December 2, with vote counting scheduled for December 3.
An official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed that the Finance Department’s proposal to close Maha ARC Ltd was approved during the cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The company was founded in September 2022, modeled after the Centre’s National Asset Reconstruction Company, but it could not start operations as the Reserve Bank denied it a license in 2023.
The cabinet also sanctioned a state guarantee for the Rs 2,000 crore HUDCO loan to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation for acquiring land for the Virar-Alibaug transport corridor.
This corridor is set to span 126.06 km, with the first phase covering 96.41 km from Navghar to Balawli, to be executed on a build, operate, and transfer basis. Additionally, the state approved necessary amendments to facilitate funding through HUDCO.
A grant of Rs 7 crore was allocated for the Laxmi Narayan Institute of Technology in Nagpur to introduce postgraduate courses in biochemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology, as well as support university operations over the next five years. The funds will be disbursed in four equal installments, starting in 2026, as mentioned in the statement.
In Kumbhari, South Solapur, the cabinet agreed to regularize constructions on 21.62 hectares for a Prime Minister Awas Yojana project, charging a nominal arrears amount of Re 1 per square meter. Rs 16.93 crore in outstanding dues and Rs 8.05 lakh in overdue non-agricultural tax will also be waived to support 30,000 houses for unorganized workers.
The cabinet allocated Rs 95.35 crore for events commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, with activities planned in Nanded, Nagpur, Kharghar (Navi Mumbai), and other districts.
In Wardha, approximately 1,056 municipal leaseholders in Ramnagar will receive freehold ownership for plots leased since 1931. The local municipal council proposed the regularization of these long-standing leases.
The cabinet also agreed to give 1.52 hectares of land for free to the Waigaul gram panchayat in Washim district for pilgrim lodging and associated facilities.
Judicial infrastructure will be enhanced with approvals to establish district and additional sessions courts, as well as a senior civil court in Ghodnadi-Shirur, Pune district, and a senior civil judge court in Paithan, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Positions for judges and staff, along with a public prosecutor’s office, have also been sanctioned.
Cabinet measures also include a revised wage sharing condition for gram panchayat staff, where panchayats collecting over 60% of taxes will receive 100% of the wage share; those collecting 50-60% will receive 90%, while panchayats below 50% will receive 80%, as noted in the statement.
A 395 square meter parcel of land in Bandra, Mumbai, will be leased to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam at a minimal annual rent of Re 1 for 30 years, designated for a parking area, information center, and offices. Upon completion, the devasthanam will provide a 2,000 sq ft space to the district administration.
An urban health commissionerate will be established, with the role of Commissioner, Urban Health, to be filled by an officer from the Indian Administrative Service. Medical officer positions for municipal bodies will be filled via deputation from the public health department.
A new government polytechnic with 300 seats will be inaugurated in Mul, Chandrapur district, as highlighted in the statement.
Amendments to the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code were approved to modify non-agricultural tax levies and introduce a conversion charge where planning permission has been granted. Relief will be provided for pending dues up to the amendment date.
The Maharashtra Jan Vishwas Ordinance, 2025, was also approved to streamline minor offenses and alleviate procedural burdens for citizens and businesses, with seven Acts set for review to align petty offense regulations with the Centre’s Jan Vishwas law.
Health initiatives were authorized, including a raised honorarium for regional workers who produce and distribute Ayushman cards, with Rs 20 for KYC tasks and Rs 10 for card distribution, totaling an allocation of Rs 204.06 crore. The list of treatments under state health schemes will also be expanded to cover 2,399 conditions across 38 specialist services.
A one-time regularization provision for contract staff under the National Health Mission, who have completed 10 years of service by March 14, 2024, was approved, allowing for adjustments to regular posts without modifying service rules.
Interest refund schemes for three economic development boards were approved to aid loans up to Rs 15 lakh for eligible borrowers. In Baramati, Pune district, five associate professor positions were sanctioned at the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College.
