Pune: Maharashtra Cabinet Greenlights Metro Expansions, Welfare Boosts, and Major Development Plans
Pune/Mumbai, 3rd September 2025: From easing metro travel in Pune and Mumbai to expanding scholarships for tribal students, the Maharashtra Cabinet has rolled out a series of big-ticket infrastructure and welfare approvals in its Wednesday meeting. The decisions span metro networks, suburban rail projects, social schemes, energy policy, and even a new High Court complex in Mumbai.
The Cabinet’s highlight was a massive expansion of the state’s metro projects:
Pune Metro:
Line-2 (Vanaz–Ramwadi) to extend from Vanaz to Chandni Chowk and Ramwadi to Wagholi (Vitthalwadi).
Line-4: Khadakwasla–Swargate–Hadapsar–Kharadi, with a spur from Nal Stop (Warje) to Manikbaug.
Two new stations – Balajinagar and Bibwewadi – approved on the Swargate–Katraj corridor.
Katraj station to be shifted 421 meters southward.
Budget: ₹683.11 crore sanctioned.
Nagpur Metro: Phase-2 expansion cleared.
Thane: Circular Metro project approved.
PCMC–Nigdi and Swargate–Katraj corridors also move forward.
Mumbai: Metro Line-11 (Anik Depot–Wadala–Gateway of India) sanctioned with a whopping ₹23,487.51 crore budget.
Social and Welfare Measures
Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana & Shravanbal Scheme: Monthly financial aid for disabled beneficiaries increased by ₹1,000. Beneficiaries will now get ₹2,500 (up from ₹1,500).
Tribal Development: The Centre’s Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students (Class 9 & 10) to replace the state’s Suvarna Mahotsavi Scholarship.
Other Key Cabinet Approvals
Energy: Policy finalized for fly ash utilization from thermal power plants.
Labour: Amendments cleared to the Maharashtra Shops & Establishments Act, 2017 and Factories Act, 1948.
Urban Development:
1.MUTP-3 & MUTP-3A suburban rail projects with 50% state funding.
2.MUTP-3B project cleared with similar financial participation.
3.Pune–Lonavala suburban rail expansion (third & fourth lines) approved.
4.Thane–Navi Mumbai International Airport elevated corridor to be implemented under PPP (BOT) by CIDCO.
5.Development of an International Business & Finance Centre (IBFC) across 692 hectares in Nagpur (Godhni & Ladgaon, Hingna) under the New Nagpur plan.
6.Construction of Outer Ring Road with four transport hubs (truck & bus terminals) around Nagpur city.
Judicial Infrastructure
A mega ₹3,750 crore budget approved for a new High Court complex at Bandra (East), Mumbai.
