The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is set to resume its land acquisition survey for the 802-km-long Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, which was stalled last year due to intense protests in the lead-up to the state legislative assembly elections.
With the elections over, the MSRDC has confirmed that the survey will resume in two weeks across all districts except Kolhapur. As per a media report a senior official said that strong resistance in Kolhapur, Solapur, and Sangli since June 2024 led to the suspension of ground activities in September. Of the 27,000 acres needed for the project, about 9,500 acres must be acquired from these three districts.
“Land acquisition will begin once the survey is completed in the next few months,” the official said. The state aims to finish the expressway by 2029, reducing travel time between Nagpur and Goa from 21 hours to 10.5 hours. Once completed, it will be Maharashtra’s longest expressway, surpassing the 701-km Samruddhi Mahamarg connecting Mumbai and Nagpur.
The Congress party plans to protest against the access-controlled expressway, claiming it will displace farmers in 12 districts despite existing routes between Nagpur and Goa. MLC Satej Patil warned that instead of legal action, protests will take place on the streets. A major demonstration is set for March 12 outside the state assembly during the budget session (March 3-25).
The expressway will pass through 12 districts, including Kolhapur, which has seen the strongest opposition. Patil, who leads the Kolhapur District Congress Committee, is at the forefront of the resistance.
Opposition to the project is growing in Latur, where farmers protested outside Tehsil offices on January 24. Led by the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, the protest opposed the acquisition of 481 acres of farmland, fearing a severe impact on local farmers. Similar protests occurred during the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway project.
The new expressway will start from Pavnar near Wardha and extend to Patradevi in North Goa, linking with the Samruddhi Expressway for better connectivity. Maharashtra officials have asked Goa to allow extra construction near Manohar International Airport at Mopa.
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