Maharashtra Government Approves Revised Shaktipeeth Highway Alignment
The Public Works Department of the Maharashtra state government issued a significant government resolution on Wednesday, formally approving a new alignment for the ambitious Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway, commonly referred to as the Nagpur-Goa highway. This decision marks a pivotal step in the state's infrastructure development, aiming to enhance connectivity across multiple districts while linking important religious sites.
New Route Details and Enhanced Connectivity
According to the newly approved layout, the highway will traverse through 40 talukas spread across 13 districts: Wardha, Yavatmal, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg. A key feature of this alignment is its connection to 21 religious places, including the prominent Shaktipeeths of Mahur, Tuljapur, and Kolhapur, which are revered pilgrimage destinations.
The revised design is expected to drastically reduce travel time between Nagpur and Goa, cutting the current 18-hour journey down to approximately eight hours. This improvement promises to boost tourism, trade, and regional mobility, fostering economic growth in the areas along the route.
Changes in Alignment and Length
The original approved design remains unchanged in the districts of Wardha, Yavatmal, Beed, and Latur. However, significant amendments have been made to the alignment in the districts of Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg to incorporate Satara district into the route. This inclusion has increased the total length of the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway from 803 km to 865.76 km, reflecting the expanded scope and coverage of the project.
Farmers' Opposition and Planned Agitation
Despite the government's approval, the project faces strong opposition from farmers who have been protesting against it for the past two years. Girish Phonde, the coordinator of the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, announced that a statewide agitation would be launched within eight days to oppose the highway.
Phonde criticized the government's actions, stating, "The Maharashtra government altered the alignment only after witnessing the impact of the farmers' agitation. This action amounts to rubbing salt in the farmers' wounds." He highlighted that the new alignment, like the previous one, covers irrigated agricultural land, raising concerns about displacement and loss of livelihood. Additionally, he pointed out that districts like Satara do not have any Shaktipeeth or major pilgrimage sites, questioning the rationale behind the route changes.
Farmers have expressed frustration over the lack of consultation, with Phonde noting, "The government has not held even a single meeting with the farmers who have been protesting for the past two years." This disconnect underscores the ongoing tensions between development initiatives and agricultural communities in the region.
The approval of the new alignment sets the stage for a potential clash between infrastructure progress and grassroots resistance, as the state moves forward with this major highway project while addressing the grievances of affected farmers.
