Nagpur, 24 Feb (HS):-

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 during 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. MLC Satej Patil

warned that instead of legal action, protests will be held on the streets. A

major demonstration is set for March 12 outside the state assembly house 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. Under the banner of the Swabhimani Shetkari

Sanghatana, the protest opposed the acquisition of 481 acres of farmland,

fearing a severe impact on local farmers. Similar protests were held during the

Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway project.

The new expressway

will start from Paonar near Wardha and extend to Patradevi in North Goa, through

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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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar