First budget of the Mahayuti Government under dispensation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saw renewed focus on hinterland of Vidarbha as State vowed to wrap up mega national irrigation project, Gosikhurd by June 2026. An allocation of Rs 1,460 crore is proposed for the year 2025-26, said Finance Minister Ajit Pawar in his budget speech. The project has created an irrigation capacity of Rs 12,332 hectares by December 2024, said the Minister. 

 

 

 

 

Further with Chief Minister himself helming Gadchiroli district where Naxalism is now waning, Government is concentrating on development of Steel Hub. For the same already, slew of projects have been finalised but in view of anticipated investment for industries, a road network is going to be strengthened at cost of Rs 500 crore in first phase. The network of highways, as State mentioned it, would help in putting in place the necessary infrastructure for evacuating the final product from the district in next few years. At World Economic Forum held in Davos, investment agreements worth Rs 21,830 crore were signed for Gadchiroli district that is expected to generate 7,500 jobs. 

 

 

As to Nagpur, allocation for the second phase of Nagpur Metro is finalised. Second phase is expected to see addition of 43.80 km at cost of Rs 6,708 crore, to be borne jointly by Centre and State with 5 per cent. State has contributed Rs 150 crore as its equity share for the second phase. Apart from that, Rs 15 crore is also sanctioned in budget for serving subordinate debt. On the share from stamp duty as of date, no allocation is mentioned but that is normally released at any period of time during the financial year. Also, package scheme of incentives is being implemented to promote balanced regional development. An incentive grant of Rs 6,400 crore is proposed for the year 2025-26 under this scheme Similarly, Maharashtra Technical Textile Mission will be established to harness State’s lead in technical textiles as same envisaged capitalising on turning around fortunes of cotton farmers in the Vidarbha. However, no concrete financial allocation was mentioned in the budget.

 

 

At Nagpur, an Urban Haat Centre will be established and same is meant to encourage and provide facilities for handloom weavers

 

 

 As Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Expressway is nearing completion, State is now turning its focus on leveraging the adjoining land parcels for promotion of agro-logistic hubs. The same was envisaged in project report of the expressway to make it feasible. It would involve setting up essential facilities such as cold storage, grading, packing, and export handling centres. This initiative will primarily benefit farmers from the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.

 

 

Land acquisition process has started for the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway, from Pavnar in Wardha district to Patradevi in Sindhudurg district, covering a length of 760 km and costing Rs 86,300 crore. The new expressway would provide direct connectivity to Vidarbha with