Mumbai, June 22: Amid mounting pressure on state finances due to rising public debt and a widening fiscal deficit, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday presented supplementary demands of Rs 97,706.40 crore for the remainder of the financial year 2026-27.

A major component of the supplementary demands is the allocation of Rs 20,552 crore towards government’s farm loan waiver programme. The overall scheme, estimated to cost Rs 36,585 crore, is expected to benefit nearly 56 lakh farmers across the state. Defending the decision, Fadnavis, who also holds the finance and planning portfolios, said the loan waiver had been announced purely to provide relief to distressed farmers and was not linked to any electoral considerations.

The state government had earlier presented a budget of Rs 7.60 lakh crore for 2026-27 and subsequently sought supplementary demands of Rs 11,552 crore during the Budget Session held earlier this year. Maharashtra has projected a fiscal deficit of Rs 1.50 lakh crore and a revenue deficit of Rs 40,000 crore, while its public debt is expected to touch Rs 11 lakh crore by the end of the current fiscal.

Infrastructure and transport projects account for a substantial share of the latest allocations. The government has proposed a loan of Rs 3,372 crore to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for metro projects. An additional Rs 4,550 crore has been earmarked for the Thane-Borivali twin tunnel project and the Orange Gate underground road corridor.

A provision of Rs 800 crore has been set aside for distribution to local self-government bodies. Under the Central Government’s special assistance scheme for states’ capital investment, an allocation of Rs 9,934 crore has been made for various development works through interest-free loans. A fund of Rs 350 crore has been provisioned as the state government’s share (equity) in Mumbai Metro.

The government has earmarked Rs 9,934 crore towards Interest-free loan for development works in various sectors under Special Assistance Scheme for Capital Investment from Central Government to the States. It has been decided to provide fund of Rs 800 crore under Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) to disburse loans received from National Housing Bank to urban local bodies. It has been decided to provide additional fund of Rs 1,000 crore as share capital contribution to Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation.

It has been decided to provide additional fund of Rs 181 crore for carrying out Civil, furniture and electrical works on various floors of the Air India building. The government has earmarked Rs 3,000 crore for payment of interest on loan taken by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company.

A fund of Rs 4,000 crore has been earmarked for payment of electricity bills of state government offices through composite billing system. The government has earmarked Rs 5,000 crore for repayment of loan taken by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company and Rs 1,750 crore to cover deficit under the Minimum Support Price Scheme.

Further, the government has earmarked Rs 1,734 crore for Honorarium of Anganwadi Workers, to meet the e expenses on general items and salary under Anganwadi service scheme. It has been decided to provide fund of Rs 100 crore for the construction of new administrative buildings under the expansion of Vidhan Bhavan, Nagpur.

Also, Rs 28 crore has been earmarked for the expenditure on Project of Digitalisation of Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat. The government has allocated Rs 21 crore to provide eco-friendly vehicle for promoting self-dependency in persons with disabilities (Mobile Shop on Vehicle).

Passengers were left stranded for the second day due to the BEST bus strike in Mumbai. Due to the public transport strike, private vehicles, autorickshaws and taxis have become silver. Complaints have also been received from passengers about double fare being charged. Meanwhile, the BEST administration has claimed in a press release that comprehensive measures are being taken by the administration to ensure passenger services. The administration is keeping an eye on the strike called by the BEST Kamgar Karti Samiti amidst the strike and has taken all necessary steps to ensure that passengers do not face any kind of inconvenience. On June 20, notices under MEMSA (Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act) were served to the employees participating in the strike, and notices under MEMSA have also been sent. Along with this, the porters have also been contacted. Considering the situation that has arisen, the Maharashtra State Road Transport has been directed to arrange 100 additional buses so that the passengers do not face any kind of trouble. Additionally,
63 examination centres of NEET exam will ensure best service to students so that they do not face any inconvenience.

60 additional buses have been arranged in Mumbai from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and orders have been given to depot managers in this regard.

The power supply department is not affected by the strike. The undertaking, and its essential power services are functioning smoothly. Providing uninterrupted, safe and reliable service to the passengers is the top priority, and all possible measures are being implemented accordingly. Mumbai is in a state of chaos due to the strike. There are no buses on the roads.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has conducted raids at a total of 15 places in Parbhani and has also started questioning suspected members of Islamic Youth Federation, Popular Front of India, ISIS. ATS has conducted this operation in a case of online extremism. After the raid in Parbhani, there has been a sensation and tension here. ATS conducted this operation early in the morning in which electronic gazettes and other documents have also been recovered from the possession of these suspects, which have been seized by ATS. Along with this, ATS has also conducted raids at the house of Honorable Bari Raeesuddin on charges of ISIS in 2016. About 14 youths have been taken into custody and their interrogation is also underway. ATS said that these youths were victims of online extremism. In such a situation, investigation is also underway on which sites these youths used to propagate extremism online. Operations were also carried out in Nanded and Chhatrapati Samhhani Nagar. Search operations were also conducted at 15 different places in Parbhani city, including Mumtaz Colony, Master Cafe, Iftikhar Colony, Saint Colony, Mustafa Bazaar, Azmat Khan Road to Saint Colony Road, Rajkot Sweet, Noble Handloom and Hosiery Shop, etc. A total of 14 people are still being arrested in this raid. The ATS has not arrested them yet. This raid operation is causing fear and panic in Muslim-majority areas of Parbhani, Nanded and other places. ATS sources have claimed in this matter that no innocent person will be harassed. The ATS is investigating in this regard. No one has been formally arrested.