Mumbai, May 26: The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved the renaming of Sawantwadi Railway Station in honor of the late Madhu Dandavate, a former Union Minister and the founder of Konkan Railway.
Following approval from the central government, Sawantwadi Railway Station will be renamed “Lokmanya Madhu Dandavate Railway Terminus.” Dandavate is regarded as the architect of the Konkan Railway project, having made significant contributions to its realization. He consistently worked on railway issues concerning the Konkan region.
A government release stated that the people of Konkan firmly believe that it was Dandavate’s vision that led to the inception of the Konkan Railway. Consequently, there has been a persistent demand to rename the important Sawantwadi Railway Station after him in recent years.
The proposal for this renaming has also received approval for submission to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Railways. This decision fulfills a long-standing demand from the people of the Konkan region.
Additionally, in light of the ongoing 2027 census, the Cabinet has approved an extension of the deadline for general transfers of state government employees until 2026. The government will now complete the transfer process by June 30, 2026.
To facilitate this, amendments will be made to the Maharashtra Government Servants Transfer and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act, 2005. The draft of this amendment was also approved during the meeting.
Typically, regular transfers of government employees occur in April and May each year. However, the first phase of the 2027 census is currently underway nationwide.
This phase involves listing housing and conducting the housing census from May 16, 2026, to June 14, 2026. The central government has issued directives that employees involved in the census work should not be transferred.
Therefore, it is essential to extend the deadline for general transfers of appointed government employees until June 30, 2026, necessitating amendments to the relevant act.
Subsequently, the Cabinet approved the issuance of an ordinance regarding this extension, pending the Governor’s consent.
Furthermore, the Cabinet has also approved exemptions from stamp duty and registration fees for transactions related to the direct purchase of private land through negotiations for the New Nagpur and New Outer Ring Road projects.
An international trade and finance center will be developed in New Nagpur, located in the Hingna taluka of Nagpur district. This project will be constructed by the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA). Additionally, a 148-kilometer-long outer ring road and four transport terminals will be developed around Nagpur city.
According to the Cabinet’s decision, private land for both projects should be acquired through negotiations, with an estimated cost of approximately ₹637 crore for stamp duty and registration fees.
These ambitious projects are expected to significantly boost regional development and create numerous opportunities for industries and businesses. Therefore, timely completion of these projects is crucial.
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