India, Feb. 2 -- Welfare sops and pre-poll freebies have squeezed the state's finances, stalling payments to private contractors executing Maharashtra government schemes, with pending bills of over Rs.22,000 crore with the Public Works Department (PWD) alone. But with the cabinet approving the Trade Receivables Electronic Discounting System (TReDS) platform last Tuesday to clear dues, contractors are likely to get their bills soon with only a 4% cut.

In November 2025, contractors in Nagpur had stopped the repair and renovation of government buildings and ministers and MLAs' residences before the scheduled winter legislature session to demand their uncleared bills of over Rs.150 crore from the last winter session. By November 2025, the to...