26 May,2026 05:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Fadnavis on Tuesday. File Pic
The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a proposal to rename Sawantwadi railway station after late veteran leader and former Union Railway Minister Madhu Dandavate.
The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday.
After receiving approval from the Central Government, the station will officially be known as "Lokmanya Madhu Dandavate Railway Terminus", an official statement said.
Madhu Dandavate is widely regarded as one of the chief architects of the Konkan Railway project. As Railway Minister and later Union Finance Minister, he played a major role in pushing for the railway line connecting the Konkan region. Local residents and railway supporters had been demanding that an important station on the Konkan route be named after him for several years.
The state government said the decision honours public sentiment and recognises Dandavate's contribution to the development of the Konkan region.
The Cabinet also approved an extension for the 2026 general transfer process of state government employees until 30 June 2026.
The extension has been granted because of the ongoing preparations for Census 2027.
According to the government, many officials are currently engaged in census-related duties, including house listing and house enumeration work scheduled between May 16 and June 14 2026.
The Central Government had instructed states not to transfer employees assigned to census work during this period. As a result, Maharashtra will amend the Maharashtra Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act, 2005.
The Cabinet also cleared a draft ordinance for the amendment, which will now be issued after approval from the Governor.
In another important decision, the Cabinet approved the regularisation of encroached land used by the Pimpaleshwar Devasthan Temple Trust in Dombivli.
The trust, located at Sagaon-Sonarpada in Kalyan taluka of Thane district, had requested that the land in its possession be granted at a nominal rate for social and religious activities.
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) had submitted details of the case to the government. Following recommendations from various committees and departments, the Cabinet approved the transfer of approximately four acres and twenty-five gunthas of land to the trust.
However, the government clarified that this decision should not be treated as a precedent for future encroachment regularisation cases on MIDC land. MIDC has also been directed to prepare a proper policy regarding encroachments, relocation and regularisation matters in future.
The Maharashtra Cabinet further approved a waiver of stamp duty and registration charges for land acquisition linked to major infrastructure projects in Nagpur.
The exemption applies to land being directly purchased through negotiations for the New Nagpur project and the proposed 148-kilometre outer ring road around Nagpur city.
The Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority plans to develop an International Business and Finance Centre at Godhani and Ladgaon villages in Hingna taluka. The outer ring road project will also include four transport terminals.
According to the government, stamp duty and registration charges for the land transactions would have cost nearly Rs 637 crore. Waiving these charges is expected to speed up the completion of both public infrastructure projects and encourage industrial and commercial growth in the region.
The Cabinet approved the exemption under provisions of the Maharashtra Stamp Act.
