27-Feb-2024 05:56 PM
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Mumbai, Feb 27 (Reporter) Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented the Mahayuti
government's first interim budget for the year 2024-25 before the Maharashtra Legislature on Tuesday with revenue deficit of Rs 9,734 crore.
Pawar has estimated revenue receipts of Rs 4,98,758 crore, as against revenue expenditure Rs 5,08,492 crore.
An outlay of Rs 6,00,522 crore is proposed for total expenditure in the year 2024-25.
Pawar, who also heads the NCP (Ajit Pawar group), presented the interim budget and said that an outlay of Rs 1.92 lakh crore has been proposed under the scheme expenditure in annual plan 2024-25.
It includes an outlay of Rs 15,839 crore for Scheduled Castes sub-plan and Rs 15,360 crore for Tribal Sub-plan.
The Finance minister also said that capital investment in the state is being substantially enhanced to achieve one trillion dollar economy.
The gross state domestic product increased by Rs 2.50-3.50 if a rupee is spent on infrastructure facilities. Various infrastructural projects have been undertaken and completed in a time-bound manner by the public sector undertaking of the state government, he claimed.
In his budget speech, Pawar also said that nearly one lakh women will be given employment opportunities in the coming year.
He.also said that 7,000 km of road works will be completed in the financial year.
Making certain major announcements, he said that a new Micro and Small Enterprises Policy will be
implemented with 18 small-scale industries hubs to be established in the state.
Five industrial parks will be set up at different locations in the state to boost exports, the Mirkarwada Fishing Port will be renovated and a provision of Rs 300 crore has been made for the Bhagwat Port, both in Ratnagiri.
The government will take up work on 7,000 km of roads network in the state, besides increasing the railway network and a proposal has been submitted for 11 Maratha forts to be declared as UNESCO World Heritage sites, the minister informed.
He also announced a provision of Rs 19,000 crore for public works and Rs 10,000 crore for urban development schemes, and Maharashtra Bhavans shall be constructed in Srinagar (Kashmir) for tourists and Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) for pilgrims.
The government will provide solar energy sets to 37,000 Anganwadis in the state that have no access to electricity, and 8,50,000 new solar agriculture pumps will be given on demand under a new scheme launched for state farmers.
The state will make available 5,000 pink autorickshaws for employment to women, give one crore water taps under the Har Ghar Jal Yojana, and spend Rs 2,500 crore for flood prevention schemes.
An important announcement pertains to the proposal to build a sea bridge from Bandra-Versova to Palghar for better connectivity to Mumbai.
Pawar said that the government is committed to attract more investments to achieve target of a one trillion dollar state economy.
The discussions on presented budget will take place on February 28 and March 1...////...