Widespread protests broke out on Tuesday across 12 districts in western Maharashtra and Marathwada as farmers and local representatives voiced strong opposition to the proposed ₹86,358 crore Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway. Demonstrators have warned of an intensified agitation if the state government proceeds with the project.
The greenfield expressway, stretching 802.592 kilometres, is slated to pass through Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg. In a show of solidarity, farmers in all these districts staged road and highway blockades. In Kolhapur, some protesters reportedly attempted to jump into the Panchganga river, but were stopped by police. In Sangli, demonstrators assembled at Ankali Phata, halting traffic on the Sangli-Kolhapur highway and causing major disruptions. Several were detained by law enforcement.
Of the 8,615 hectares required for the expressway, 8,141 hectares are to be acquired from private owners, primarily farmers. Strong opposition has emerged, particularly from western Maharashtra, where acquisition threatens fertile horticultural land and farmer livelihoods.
In Satara and Sangli, the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway was blocked for nearly 90 minutes by farmers led by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana chief Raju Shetti. Addressing the media, Shetti confirmed that ongoing land surveys for the project had been halted. “We have disrupted the soil testing and warned authorities against bringing the testing machines here,” he said, vowing to escalate protests if the government does not withdraw the project.
Shetti also questioned the necessity of the expressway, noting that it runs nearly parallel to the existing Ratnagiri-Nagpur National Highway (NH 166), at distances ranging from 2 to 30 kilometres. He announced plans to visit Pandharpur’s Vitthal Temple to pray for “wisdom to prevail upon the Chief Minister.”
The Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, a major infrastructure initiative by the BJP-led Mahayuti government, is intended to link various religious destinations (Shaktipeeths) across the state. However, mounting public resistance has cast uncertainty over the future of the ambitious project.
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