A major infrastructure project aimed at boosting connectivity in Maharashtra has ignited a political dispute between two districts of the Marathwada region. The proposed Kalyan-Latur Jankalyan Expressway, intended to connect Mumbai to Hyderabad, is now at the center of a heated debate over its final route.
The Contention Over Alignment
Elected representatives from Dharashiv and Beed districts are locked in a disagreement over the highway's path. While some leaders from Dharashiv are pushing for a revised alignment to include their district, politicians from Beed are firmly opposing any such change.
The expressway, announced during the recent winter session of the state legislature, is currently planned to cover the route from Latur-Ambajogai-Kaij-Jamkhed-Ahilyanagar to Kalyan. However, Dharashiv's Member of Parliament, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Omraje Nimbalkar, has formally requested the government to reconsider.
Dharashiv's Push for Inclusion
In a letter to the government, Omraje Nimbalkar proposed an alternative route: Latur-Kalamb-Para-It-Kharda-Jamkhed-Ahilyanagar-Kalyan. He argues that this revision is crucial for Dharashiv, a district covered under the central government's Aspirational District scheme.
Nimbalkar claims the new alignment would not only bring development to Dharashiv by improving communication and boosting industries but would also reduce the total distance of the approximately 450 km-long expressway by 70 km. He emphasized that farmers' incomes would see a significant increase if the highway passes through this part of the district.
Beed's Strong Opposition
Leaders from the neighboring Beed district are having none of it. Parli MLA from the NCP, Dhananjay Munde, has appealed directly to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him not to entertain any pleas for altering the existing alignment.
Munde contends that the expressway is a vital project for Beed's progress. He stated that it would be a key factor in enhancing industrial growth, improving agricultural produce transport, and driving overall economic advancement in the district. Diverting the project, he warned, would be unfortunate and unjust to the people of Beed.
Project Status and Official Silence
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is the agency executing this high-profile project. Officials are currently preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
At this critical juncture, however, MSRDC authorities were unavailable for comment on the escalating controversy. Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who serves as the ex-officio chairman of MSRDC, could not be reached for his stance on the matter.
The standoff highlights the high stakes involved in infrastructure development, where routing decisions can shape the economic fortunes of entire regions. With both districts presenting compelling cases, the government's final decision on the Jankalyan Expressway alignment is eagerly awaited.
