Nagpur, India: The six-lane Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project is picking up speed as the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) submits a renewed application for environmental clearance. This project, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Mahayuti government, is designed to improve connectivity between Maharashtra’s key Shaktipeeths, shrines, and pilgrimage locations.

Earlier this year, MSRDC withdrew its initial application for clearance after local farmers raised concerns during a meeting in Kolhapur with leaders such as Fadnavis, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The issues included environmental risks and the potential loss of fertile land. To address these concerns, MSRDC has now re-applied with revised plans, offering various alignment options for the 802-kilometer stretch, which spans from Wardha to Sindhudurg.

Key Details of the Project:

Route and Coverage: Starting in Pavnar (Wardha district) and ending at Patradevi on the Maharashtra-Goa border, the expressway will pass through multiple districts including Yavatmal, Nanded, Latur, Solapur, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg.

Length: At 802 kilometers, it will surpass the 701-kilometer Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway, making it one of India’s longest expressways.

Time Savings: The expressway is expected to cut travel time between Nagpur and Goa from the current 18-20 hours to just 8-10 hours.

Support and Opposition:

While the project has gained support from landowners in Vidarbha and Marathwada, it faces strong opposition in the Sangli and Kolhapur districts, where concerns about environmental impact and agricultural land loss remain high.

The state government is working to address these challenges by offering multiple alignment options and ensuring minimal disruption to the environment and local communities. The renewed environmental clearance push represents a significant step toward the completion of this transformative infrastructure project.