Maharashtra Govt approves proposal to borrow ₹2,975 crore from ADB for health project — PRAGATI

The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday (September 8, 2026), announced the implementation of the “PRAGATI (Primary Healthcare Reimagined with Advanced Governance and Accessible Technology Integration)” project between 2026 and 2031. The Cabinet approved the State Public Health Department’s proposal to obtain a loan from the Asian Development Bank for the project and to include the State Government’s share in it.The total cost of this project is expected to be ₹4,250 crore, the loan approval has been given for ₹2,975 crore from the Asian Development Bank and ₹1,275 crore was approved to be made available in phases in the budget as the State’s share, as per the CMO. The project proposes to start a 500-bed district hospital each in Kolhapur and Nanded and a 300-bed district hospital in Nagpur and Latur as well as a 200-bed specialty referral hospital for Pune district. The new hospitals will create around 2,430 posts and an annual provision of ₹147.7 crore as salary expenditure for the same. The Pragati Health Reform Project will be implemented by integrating primary, secondary and tertiary health services in the State, with aim to achieve timely and accurate diagnosis, standardised treatment, effective referral system, continuity of care, digital governance and efficiency of the health system. According to Public Health Department, this will reduce the cost of health of the citizens and promote the goal of universal health coverage. This project is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, Universal Health Coverage, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, National Health Policy, World Health Organization’s Health System Framework.For this project, a State Project Management Cell as well as a Project Implementation Cell, Procurement Process Management and Implementation Cell, Digital Health Implementation Cell and Technical Project Implementation Cell will be established at the level of Commissioner, Health Services.Approval to revised policy of sportsperson employment The State Cabinet on Tuesday (September 8, 2026), also a revised policy to bring uniformity in 5% reservation in employment for sportspersons in government, semi-government and other sectors.The eligible sportspersons will receive their sports certificates verified within three months of the issuance. Indigenous sports, kabaddi, kho-kho, chess, mallakhamb and cricket players will be eligible for the reservation. For competitions organised by recognised sports bodies, athletes in the senior, youth and junior categories will be eligible. Sports in the under-19 school category, Khelo India Youth, University and Para Games, and All India Inter-University competitions will also qualify. The revised policy will launch an automated digital Krida E-Praman system to curb fake certificates. Published - September 09, 2026 01:17 am IST