Six-Lane Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway Gains Momentum Amid Renewed Push For Environmental Clearance With Multiple Alignment Options

In a big boost for connectivity, the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led Mahayuti government’s ambitious project of building an expressway between Nagpur and Goa, connecting Maharashtra’s Shaktipeeths, some significant shrines and pilgrimage destinations - is starting to gain momentum.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has reportedly submitted a fresh application for environmental clearance for the Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway.

Earlier in August, after a delegation including local farmers met Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar in Kolhapur demanding cancellation of the project, the MSRDC withdrew the plan to seek environment clearance for the project.

After withdrawing its previous request a couple of months ago, MSRDC has now re-applied, presenting multiple alignment options for all packages spanning from Wardha to Sindhudurg.

The proposed six-lane access-controlled Shaktipeeth Expressway is set to surpass the Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway in length, making it one of India's longest expressways. Spanning 802 kilometers, it will exceed the 701-kilometer Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway, commonly known as Samruddhi Mahamarg, which is currently partially open to traffic.

The Shaktipeeth Expressway will begin at Pavnar in Wardha district and conclude at Patradevi on the Maharashtra-Goa state border.

The Shaktipeeth Expressway is designed to traverse 11 districts, linking regions across Vidarbha, Marathwada, and the Konkan.

The planned route is proposed to pass through Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Latur, Beed, Osmanabad, Solapur, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg, which is located at the Maharashtra-Goa border.

The expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Nagpur and Goa from 18-20 hours to about 8-10 hours.

According to the reports, the land owners in Vidharbha and Marathwada are supporting the project, while major opposition was coming for it was coming from Sangli and Kolhapur districts.

Now, with the multiple alignment options submitted for the project, the state government is seeking to address the environmental and other concerns, including destruction of fertile lands, raised by locals.

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