Maharashtra's New Lifeline: The ₹20,787 Cr Shaktipeeth Corridor

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the construction of the 802-km Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway, allocating ₹20,787 crore for the project. The high-speed corridor will stretch from Pavnar in Wardha district to Patradevi on the Maharashtra–Goa border in Sindhudurg, reducing travel time between Nagpur and Goa from 18 hours to just 8.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who emphasized the project's role in enhancing intra-state connectivity and boosting tourism. The expressway will traverse 12 districts—Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg.

To ensure inclusive development, the Chief Minister advised engaging directly with local farmers where land acquisition concerns arise, stating, “Wherever there is opposition to the project for fear of land acquisition, talks should be held with the local farmers.”

The expressway is envisioned as a spiritual and economic lifeline, connecting key pilgrimage sites and Shaktipeeths across the state, including Mahur, Tuljapur, Kolhapur, Pandharpur, Ambajogai, Aundha Nagnath, Parli Vaijnath, Karanja-Lad, Akkalkot, Audumber, and Narsobachi Wadi.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will implement the project. To support land acquisition—estimated at nearly 7,500 hectares—HUDCO has sanctioned a ₹12,000 crore loan.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.