Maharashtra
Maha govt withdraws 6 pc tax on EVs priced above Rs 30 lakh

Mumbai, March 26: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Wednesday in the state council that the government has decided to withdraw the six per cent tax on electric vehicles (EVs) priced above Rs 30 lakh, as was initially proposed by Deputy CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar in the annual budget for 2025-26.
The chief minister made this announcement while responding to a question by Shiv Sena(UBT) legislator Anil Parab during a discussion on EVs and air pollution.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had said that the six per cent tax on EVs priced above Rs 30 lakh was part of its move to mop up additional revenue. However, the auto industry and other stakeholders had urged the state government to withdraw the 6 per cent tax, especially when the Centre and the state government are promoting the use of EVs to address the pollution issue.
Parab raised concerns over the proposed tax which would have been effective from April 1.
He said, “The Centre is actively encouraging EVs by providing a slew of incentives. The state government’s proposal to level a six per cent tax on EVs above Rs 30 lakh would be counter productive and it would be contradictory to the broader objective of promoting pollution free and clean mobility.”
The chief minister said that the government arrived at a conclusion that the tax would not mobilise substantial revenue and could send the wrong signal about our commitment to electric mobility. Therefore, the state government will not go ahead with the six per cent tax on EVs priced above Rs 30 lakh, he added.
During the budget presentation on March 10, the state government proposed a 6 per cent tax on EVs above Rs 30 lakh and a one per cent tax hike on individual-owned non-transport four-wheeler CNG and LPG vehicles. The move was aimed to generate an additional revenue of approximately Rs 150 crore in 2025-26. The Finance Minister had also announced a 7 per cent tax on light goods vehicles (LGVs) carrying goods up to 7,500 kg, which would bring Rs 625 crore to the exchequer.
Maharashtra
‘Gujarat Portion Of Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project To Be Completed By December 2027’: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

New Delhi: The Gujarat portion of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project between Vapi and Sabarmati is planned to be completed by December 2027, while the entire 508 km project is expected to be completed by December 2029, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday.
However, the bullet train project is a very complex and technology-intensive and the exact timelines for its completion can only be reasonably ascertained after the completion of all associated works of civil structures, track, electrical, signalling & telecommunication and supply of trainsets, the minister added.
MAHSR is under execution with technical and financial assistance from the Japanese government. The project is passing through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati, the minister said.
A cumulative financial expenditure of Rs 78,839 crore has been incurred on the project till June 30, 2025, he said.
The total estimated cost of the MAHSR project is approximately Rs 1,08,000 crore, out of which Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding 81 per cent of the project cost which works out to Rs 88,000 crore while the balance 19 per cent cost amounting to Rs 20,000 crore will be funded through equity contribution from Ministry of Railways (50 per cent) and Maharashtra and Gujarat state governments (25 per cent each).
The delay in land acquisition in Maharashtra impacted the project till 2021. However, currently, the entire land (1389.5 hectares) for the MAHSR project has been acquired. The Final Location Survey and Geotechnical investigation has also been completed, and alignment finalised. All Statutory Clearances relating to wildlife, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and Forest clearance have been obtained, and all the civil contracts of the project have been awarded, Vaishnaw said.
Till now, 392 km of pier construction, 329 km of girder casting and 308 km of girder launching have been completed. The work on the undersea tunnel (21 km approx.) has also started. In order to expand the high-speed rail (HSR) network in India beyond the MAHSR corridor and to meet the growing passenger demand between major cities of commercial and tourist importance, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), he added.
HSR projects are highly capital-intensive, and any decision to take up a new project is based on many factors such as technical feasibility, financial & economic viability, traffic demand and availability of funds & financing options. The commercial operation of the MAHSR project involves an affordable fare structure for the services, taking into account the socio-economic conditions of the clientele for optimum patronage of the HSR sectors, the minister added.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Airport Makes It To The Top 10 Airports In The World: Report

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has once again made India proud by securing a spot among the world’s top 10 international airports, as ranked by New York-based Travel + Leisure magazine in its World’s Best Awards 2025.
Recognised under the category of Readers’ 10 Favourite International Airports of 2025, CSMIA is the only Indian airport to feature on this prestigious list for the third consecutive year, earning an impressive reader score of 84.23.
The recognition highlights CSMIA’s dedication to creating a tech-enabled, future-ready and passenger-first airport ecosystem. Passengers lauded the airport for its world-class hospitality, efficient services, vibrant retail and F&B offerings, and overall seamless travel experience.
Spread across 1,900 acres, CSMIA is currently the world’s busiest single-runway airport and India’s second busiest by passenger traffic. The airport handles nearly 1,000 flights daily, offering connectivity to 54 international and 67 domestic destinations, operated by over 50 international and 7 domestic airlines. In FY 2024-25, the airport saw a footfall of over 55 million travellers.
Over the past year, CSMIA has introduced several passenger-focused innovations, such as:
DigiYatra and FTI-TTP integration for paperless, biometric-based boarding
A new Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) for real-time operational efficiency
68 e-gates, self-check-in kiosks, and a digital parking payment system
In line with its Digital First vision, these upgrades aim to reduce wait times, enhance security checks, and simplify overall passenger movement. Meanwhile, the airport has also expanded its culinary and shopping offerings, blending local and global flavours to cater to diverse traveller preferences.
Notably, CSMIA is the first airport in India and the third globally to receive Level 5 ACI Accreditation – the highest global standard for airport service quality and customer experience.
With a sharp focus on sustainability, digitisation, and customer satisfaction, CSMIA continues to set benchmarks for airport excellence, solidifying Mumbai’s place on the global aviation map.
Crime
Maharashtra: 31-Year-Old Govt Officer Accuses Husband Of Installing Spy Cameras In Bedroom, Dowry Harassment; Case Filed

Pune: A Maharashtra government officer has alleged her husband secretly installed spy cameras in their bedroom to record her private moments, and subjected her to mental and physical harassment by demanding Rs 1.5 lakh dowry, police said.
About The Case
The 31-year-old woman alleged her husband, also a government employee, had installed cameras in the bathroom, too, the police said on Tuesday.
Based on the woman’s complaint, the police have registered a case against her husband, mother-in-law, three sisters-in-law and husbands of two sisters-in-law under sections 85 (cruelty by a husband or his relatives towards a woman), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, they said.
The woman, a Class-2 officer in a state government department, was harassed physically and mentally by her husband and his family members, the police said, citing the complaint.
“The woman has alleged she was subjected to mental and physical harassment by her husband and his relatives, who pressured her to get Rs 1.5 lakh from her parental home to pay installments of car. When she refused to bring the money, she was beaten up,” an official from Ambegaon police station said.
The woman also alleged her husband installed spy cameras in their bedroom to record her private moments and threatened to make them viral if she did not fulfil his demand, the official said.
A probe was on into the complaint, the police added.
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