Contractors across nearly 20 districts in Maharashtra have announced plans to suspend ongoing government projects, citing pending payments exceeding Rs 96,000 crore and the state government’s lack of response. The proposed shutdown could jeopardise major infrastructure initiatives, including road construction, bridge projects, and water supply schemes.
The Maharashtra State Contractors Federation warned that the halt may impact the construction of nearly 24,000 km of roads, approximately 1,600 bridges, and water schemes serving around 18,000 villages.
This decision follows a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the two deputy chief ministers on April 3, in which the federation sought a meeting and urged immediate clearance of dues. The contractors had cautioned that a lack of action would force them to resort to a shutdown.
In addition to the state-level submission, memorandums have been sent to district collectors, Public Works Department officials, and zilla parishad authorities across multiple districts, including Solapur, Nagpur, Nashik, Yavatmal, Thane, Pune, Buldhana, Satara, Ahilyanagar, Nanded, Parbhani, Jalgaon, and Amravati.
Contractors stressed that the prolonged delay in payments is putting significant financial strain on companies handling large-scale public works. They urged the government to expedite settlement of dues to prevent the disruption of essential infrastructure projects that affect millions of residents across the state.
If the shutdown proceeds, officials warn that critical projects—including transport networks, bridges, and village water schemes—could face severe delays, impacting both urban and rural communities. The federation has made it clear that the strike will remain in effect until the government addresses the pending payments and engages with contractor representatives to resolve the crisis.
This situation highlights growing tension between the state government and contractors over financial management of public infrastructure projects, raising concerns about the continuity of essential services and the timely completion of development works in Maharashtra.
Source: The Indian Express
