September 3, 2025: The Maharashtra cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Wednesday cleared 15 key decisions, including major urban infrastructure projects and amendments to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, as well as the Factories Act, 1948. These changes are in line with the Centre’s ongoing reforms to adapt labour laws to the needs of a rapidly evolving economy.
A substantial focus was placed on strengthening the state’s metro network. The cabinet approved loans for the Thane Circular Metro, Pune Metro Line-2, Line-4 and Nagpur Metro Phase-2. It also cleared contingent liabilities for externally supported loans, enabling agreements for several corridors including Pimpri-Chinchwad to Nigdi, Swargate to Katraj, Vanaz to Chandni Chowk, Ramwadi to Wagholi, and Nagpur Metro Phase-2.
In Mumbai, the cabinet sanctioned the ambitious Metro Line 11 project from Anik Depot-Wadala to Gateway of India, with a financial provision of Rs 23,487.51 crore. Pune Metro will see two additional stations – Balajinagar and Bibvewadi and a southward shift of the Katraj station by 421 metres, with Rs 683.11 crore earmarked.
The cabinet also approved loans for purchasing new suburban trains under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-3 and 3A). Unlike earlier funding models, the project will rely entirely on contributions from the state and the Railways, avoiding external borrowings. Additionally, the state will bear 50 per cent of costs under MUTP-3B, covering the third and fourth railway lines between Pune and Lonavala.
For road connectivity, the elevated link between Thane and Navi Mumbai International Airport will be executed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) through CIDCO.
These measures reflect Maharashtra’s intent to modernise urban transport while aligning legal frameworks with economic demands.
Source: HansIndia
