Mumbai, Sep 16 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has officially sanctioned the Maharashtra Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality Policy 2025, with a proposed budget of Rs 3,268 crore. This policy introduces a range of incentives and aims to streamline procedures for expedited approvals.

This cabinet decision aligns with CM Fadnavis's statements at the recent WAVES summit, where he highlighted the entertainment economy as a critical driver of development for both the state and the nation. He stated, 'With a 500-acre film city undergoing transformation into a state-of-the-art global studio ecosystem, alongside a 120-acre media and entertainment city dedicated to animation, visual effects, and gaming, we are poised to achieve significant results in the coming months.'

Furthermore, the CM emphasized that the entertainment sector is pivotal for Maharashtra and India’s growth. 'Our state is at the forefront of global storytelling. The government is dedicated to facilitating this evolution by crafting enabling policies to draw in international collaborations,' he asserted.

The cabinet also approved the establishment of a joint venture involving MahaGenco and Sutlej Jalvidyut Nigam Ltd to initiate renewable energy projects totaling 5,000 MW.

In a special case, the cabinet granted financial support to the Nilkanth Cooperative Spinning Mill in Akola under a ratio of 5:45:50.

Additionally, the cabinet has decided to nearly double the daily subsistence allowance for students residing in government hostels for backward classes, along with an increase in the sanitation allowance.

Another significant approval was the two-year extension of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Shetkari Bhavan Yojana, with a total budget of Rs 132.48 crore designated for constructing new Shetkari Bhavans across 116 market committees statewide and renovating existing structures.

The cabinet also greenlit plans for the construction of 79 new Shetkari Bhavans in various locations. Additionally, the execution of a scheme to set up modern orange centers in Nagpur, Katol, Kalmeshwar (Nagpur district), Morshi (Amravati district), and Sangrampur (Buldhana district) has been extended by two years.

Moreover, the cabinet approved the construction of a 94 km access-controlled expressway linking Bhandara and Gadchiroli through the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. This includes the approval of design and land acquisition, along with an allocation of Rs 931.15 crore for related land acquisition costs. The meeting led by the CM also conferred cabinet committee status to the State Infrastructure Sub-Committee.