Shaktipeeth Mahamarg from Pavanar to Patradevi: Another development avenue for Maharashtra’s interior
Shaktipeeth Mahamarg from Pavanar to Patradevi: Another development avenue for Maharashtra’s interior
The development man Devendra Fadnavis’s relentless drive for development is producing yet another massive expressway project to run through the middle of Maharashtra. Similar to the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Highway, the Fadnavis government has announced the ambitious “Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway” (Nagpur-Goa Expressway) project. The vision behind this project is to facilitate religious tourism to the famous Shakti Peethas and other pilgrimage sites along the route and further boost the economies of the connected districts as a direct outcome. Starting at Pavanar in Wardha district and ending at Patra Devi in Sindhudurg, at the Maharashtra-Goa border, the Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway will be approximately 802.59 kilometres long and will pass through 12 districts of the state. This ambitious expressway will connect three and a half Shakti Peethas, three Jyotirlingas, and a total of 18 pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra, including Pandharpur, Ambajogai, Audumbar, Gangapur, Akkalkot, Narsobachi Wadi, and Takht Sachkhand Shri Huzur Sahib (Nanded).
The Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway project is estimated to cost ₹86,300 crore and will pass through Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Western Maharashtra to create a new economic corridor, riding on a renewed wave of tourism development in these regions. While this project will boost local economies through developments in infrastructure, religious tourism, and local employment generation, it will reduce the travel time between Nagpur and Goa from 18 hours to just 8 hours. The state government recently allocated ₹20,787 crore for land acquisition for the project.
Sep
Oct
Jan
Mar
Jun
Jan
Feb
Mar
Sep
Jun
Aug
2022
16
Sep 2022
Instructions to prepare the technical report for the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Mahamarg
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the preparation of a technical and cost report for the construction of an expressway (the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway) from Pawanar (Wardha district) to Patradevi (Sindhudurg district) on the Maharashtra–Goa border. The expressway is proposed along the lines of the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, aiming at the development of all religious sites and promotion of religious tourism. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has been tasked with preparing this report.
Read More
24
Sep 2022
Nagpur-Goa Expressway Announced
The state government has decided to build the Nagpur-Goa Super Expressway, modelled after the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Highway. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the government intends to develop a new economic corridor by building this highway connecting Vidarbha-Marathwada-Western Maharashtra to Goa. He made the announcement at an event organized by the Vidarbha branch of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO). This super expressway will pass through districts in three regions – Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Western Maharashtra.
Read More
22
Oct 2022
MSRDC Issues Tender for Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Shaktipeeth Highway
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) issued a notice inviting tenders for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed construction of the Nagpur-Goa Expressway and for assisting in the land acquisition process for the said road. According to the notice, the period for submission of tenders was from October 17, 2022, to November 18, 2022.
Three companies submitted tenders for Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Highway
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation received tenders from three companies to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for the Nagpur-Goa Expressway. These include LN Malviya Infra Projects Private Limited, Monarch Surveyors and Engineering Consultants Private Limited, and TPF Engineering Private Limited.
Read More
9
Mar 2023
₹86,300 crore allocated for Shakti Peetha Highway in the Budget
The technical and financial feasibility report for the Nagpur-Goa Expressway, aka Maharashtra Shakti Peetha Highway, from Pavanar in Wardha district to Patra Devi in Sindhudurg district, is getting prepared. This 760-km highway will connect the Shakti Peetha shrines of Mahur, Tuljapur, Kolhapur, and Ambajogai; the two Jyotirlingas at Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath; the Takht Sachkhand Shri Huzur Sahib Gurudwara in Nanded; the Vitthal-Rakhumai Temple, the revered deity of Maharashtra in Pandharpur; as well as the pilgrimage sites of Karanja Lad, Akkalkot, Gangapur, Narsobachi Wadi, and Audumbar. Passing through six districts—Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, and Dharashiv—this highway will boost the economy of Marathwada. It will also boost the development of the Wardha, Yavatmal, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg districts. The project is estimated to cost ₹86,300 crore.
Read More
6
Jun 2023
Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway Review
A review meeting on the development of the Nagpur-Goa Shakti Peetha Highway and the Pune-Nashik Highway was held today at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai. Senior officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) made presentations. Instructions were given to expedite the completion of both highways.
Read More
2024
30
Jan 2024
Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway Review Meeting
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a review meeting regarding the Pavanar-Patradevi (Nagpur-Goa) Maharashtra Shakti Peetha Expressway.
Final Design of Maharashtra Shakti Peetha Mahamarg Approved
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has conducted site inspections and studied various alternative routes as per regulations. Accordingly, the final design has been proposed by the MSRDC as the most suitable route for comparison. In this, the Maharashtra Shakti Peetha Highway has been proposed to start at Digraj Taluka, District Wardha, and end at the Banda town in Sawantwadi Taluka of the District Sindhudurg, spanning a length of 802.592 kilometres. It has been approved by the state government.
Read More
7
Mar 2024
Notification Issued for Land Acquisition for Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Mahamarg
The state government issued a notification on March 7, 2024, for land acquisition in various districts for the construction, maintenance, and management of the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway. The Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway will connect 12 districts of the state, namely Wardha, Yavatmal, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg. It will further connect with the Konkan Expressway at the Goa-Maharashtra border. Officials have been ordered to acquire land in these districts and the respective talukas. To accomplish this, the state government has appointed 27 land acquisition officers in the 12 districts.
MSRDC decides to halt land acquisition process for Shaktipeeth Highway
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has decided to halt the land acquisition process for sections of the Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Highway due to protests in some areas. A communication in this regard has been sent to the state government. Following the state government’s notification on March 7, the MSRDC began preparing for the land acquisition process for the highway. However, due to strong opposition by farmers to the land acquisitions in Sangli and Kolhapur, the MSRDC decided to halt the land acquisition process.
₹20,000 crore approved for land acquisition for Shaktipeeth Expressway
The state government approved the construction of the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway from Pavanar (Wardha district) to Patra Devi (Sindhudurg district). This expressway project, which will connect 18 pilgrimage sites, including three and a half Shaktipeeths, three Jyotirlingas, and Pandharpur and Ambejogai will be implemented by the State Road Development Corporation. The Devendra Fadnavis government, in a state cabinet meeting, approved a provision of ₹20,787 crore for the design and land acquisition of the project. 12 districts of the state—Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg—will be connected through this expressway. Additionally, this highway will reduce travel time from Nagpur to Goa from 18 hours to 8 hours. With ₹12,000 crore approved for land acquisition for this project, it is expected to acquire 7,500 hectares of land for this project.
Government approves Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway Project
The state government has approved the construction of the 802.592-kilometre Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway from Pavanar in Wardha district to Patradevi in Sindhudurg district by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation through a cabinet decision dated February 7, 2024. Now, the state government has proceeded further by approving the design of the Pavanar to Sangli section of this highway.
However, from the originally approved design drawings under Section 3 and Section 15(2) of the Maharashtra Highways Act, 1955, as per the notification dated October 15, 2024, certain portions in the Kolhapur district covering the Shirol, Karvir, Hatkanangale, Kagal, Bhudargadh, and Ajara talukas have been excluded. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has been ordered to examine available and potential alternative design options in the above-mentioned talukas of Kolhapur district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and both Deputy Chief Ministers have been authorized to finalize design options after consulting with district ministers and local public representatives. The government has approved the immediate commencement of land acquisition for the Maharashtra Shakti Peetha Highway Project. The government has already granted administrative approval for an expenditure of ₹20,787 crore.
The Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway: paving higher growth for Maharashtra's interior
The Pavanar to Patradevi Highway, aka Shaktipeeth Expressway, is another great initiative by Devendra Fadnavis turning a problem into an opportunity. Earlier, there were no direct routes to reach the Shaktipeethas and Jotirlingas located in Maharashtra’s interior, which would make it difficult for the devotees coming from distances. The Shaktipeeth Mahamarg will make it easy and faster to reach these holy places and in turn will boost pilgrimage and the economies of the districts. Another important aspect of this 802.59 km highway is that it will ensure superior road connectivity to the 12 districts it will pass through with links to the Samruddhi Expressway to attract more investments to Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Western Maharashtra.
