Union Budget 2026 is a strong step towards Viksit Bharat: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have welcomed the Union Budget 2026, calling it a strong and decisive step towards building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

Both leaders said the budget will significantly strengthen Mumbai and Maharashtra while accelerating growth across smaller cities.

In a post on social media platform X, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the budget focuses on planned urbanisation, promotion of industry and entrepreneurship, and strong measures to boost investment and job creation.

He highlighted the allocation of Rs 12 lakh crore for infrastructure development, along with substantial provisions for agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and irrigation.

Fadnavis said the decision to create exclusive malls and business opportunities for women, following the success of the Lakhpati Didi scheme, is a crucial step towards women’s economic empowerment. He also welcomed the announcement of hostels for girls pursuing higher education in every district and the strengthening of emergency medical services in district hospitals.

High-speed rail corridors

The Chief Minister added that high-speed rail corridors such as Mumbai-Pune and Pune-Hyderabad will significantly increase GDP growth.

He said growth hubs like the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune, and Nagpur will each receive Rs 5,000 crore over five years, giving a major boost to regional development.

Budget, a firm step towards fulfilling PM Modi’s vision: Shinde

Reacting to the budget, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that it will accelerate the overall development of small cities while strengthening infrastructure and providing large-scale support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

He described the budget as a firm step towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed and self-reliant India.

Shinde said that despite global economic instability, India has maintained its growth rate, and the budget balances economic development, improvement in living standards, and the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. He noted that the budget reflects awareness of present challenges while preparing for the future.

The Deputy Chief Minister said Mumbai and Maharashtra will benefit greatly from the budget. He welcomed the announcement of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology in Mumbai, following the global WAVES conference held in the city last year. He said the institute will strengthen Mumbai’s position in the entertainment and creative industries, an official statement said.

Will boost their economic potential, says Shinde

Shinde also highlighted the focus on Tier-II and Tier-III cities, saying this will boost their economic potential.

He said infrastructure funding of Rs 12 lakh crore for cities with populations above five lakh, along with incentives of Rs 100 crore for municipal bonds, will help strengthen urban local bodies across Maharashtra.

He added that Maharashtra’s strong manufacturing base will benefit from incentives for MSMEs, semiconductor manufacturing, biopharma, textiles, handlooms, handicrafts, container manufacturing, and data centres.

According to Shinde, these sectors are well represented in the state and will see significant growth.

Development of medical hubs

The Deputy Chief Minister also welcomed the announcement of high-speed rail corridors, the development of medical hubs to promote medical tourism, and support for the fisheries sector, including coconut and cashew production through technology-based measures.

Shinde said the introduction of ‘She-Marts’ will help women from self-help groups become entrepreneurs, while hostels for girls in every district will provide strong support for education. He also said the reduction in import duty on medicines for serious illnesses will bring relief to thousands of patients.

He further noted that the simplified income tax system announced earlier will be implemented from April 1, benefiting taxpayers across all income groups.