The Maharashtra government has approved the construction of an 802-kilometer ‘Shaktipith Expressway,’ connecting the eastern part of the state with Western Konkan. This high-speed corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Nagpur and Goa from 18 hours to a mere 8 hours. The ambitious project received approval during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday.
Project Cost: ₹20,787 Crore
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The estimated cost of the project is ₹20,787 crore and will be implemented through the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). HUDCO has approved a loan of ₹12,000 crore for land acquisition. The government believes this project will not only facilitate traffic but also strengthen the state from a religious and economic perspective.
Highway Will Traverse 12 Districts
This greenfield expressway will begin from Pawanar in Wardha and reach Patradai in Sindhudurg, connecting Maharashtra to Goa. It will pass through the districts of Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg. It is anticipated that this project will accelerate industrial, social, and economic activities in these regions.
Shaktipith Expressway Will Connect Key Religious Sites
The Shaktipith Expressway’s objective extends beyond just traffic facilitation; it will also connect the state’s prominent religious sites. Easy access will be provided to major pilgrimage locations such as Ambajogai, Ounda Nagnath, Parli Vaijnath (two Jyotirlingas), Karanja-Lad, Akkalkot, Audehmber, Narasobaachi Wadi, Maher, Tuljapur, Kolhapur, and Pandharpur. This is expected to significantly boost religious tourism.
Government Emphasizes Dialogue and Transparency
During the project review, the Chief Minister instructed officials to engage in dialogue with local farmers and affected parties wherever there is opposition, ensuring transparent solutions are implemented to proceed with the work without disputes.
Other Cabinet Decisions
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During the cabinet meeting, two other important decisions were also taken. A long-pending amendment to the scholarship amount provided to students residing in tribal community hostels was approved. Furthermore, allocation of 7,000 square meters of land for a rainwater harvesting plant in the Chikhli area of Pimpri-Chinchwad was also granted approval.
The state government believes that the Shaktipith Expressway will not only simplify traffic and religious travel but will also serve as a bridge for development in rural and semi-urban areas. This decision is being viewed as a significant step towards elevating Maharashtra in terms of infrastructure and culture.
