Nagpur, 11 June

(HS): Despite opposition from a section of farmers in Kolhapur and Sangli

districts, the Nagpur-Goa Expressway better known as Shaktipeeth Mahamarg is a

dream project which would revolutionise logistics and religious tourism.

After

Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway named after Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, the

Shaktipeeth connecting 13 districts would facilitating trade and promotion

tourism is estimated to cost around Rs 86,000 crore. The Shaktipeeth Mahamarg

will connect Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur,

Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur and Sindhudurg. Most of the districts are

not connected to major railway network in the country.

The expressway

is named ‘Shakipeeth Mahamarg’ as it connects three and a half ‘Shaktipeeth’

(Religious power places related to different incarnations of Goddess Parvati).

LOGISTICS AND

TOURSIM

The expressway

connects non-coastal areas in the Vidarbha, and Marathwada to coastal Konkan

area in Sindhudurg which being developed as a major sea transport hub. The time

consumed to travel the distance will be reduced from 21 hours to 12 hours.

Sindhudurg is an entry point to the State of Goa, a major attraction for

tourism in India.

DESIGN REVISED

Thus the 856 km

expressway is being developed to provide boost to economy, trade and tourism in

the region. Due to growing opposition to the design of Shaktipeeth Mahamarg in

Kolhapur and Sangli district the alignment in the original design was worked

out, by increasing length of the expressway from 802.592 km to 856.765 km.

The revised plan

has changed both the ends of the expressway from Paonar to Digraj in Wardha

District and Banda in Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg District. In the revised design

Satara district has been added. The revised design has maintained route in

Wardha, Yavatmal, Yavatmal, Beed and Latur districts. The changes were worked

out in Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur and

Sindhudurg districts. A major change was carried out in Sangli district. The

Land Acquisition Notification has also been issued.

Agitation by

farmers and their leaders protesting the fertile land acquisition for the

expressway and possibility of floods in adjoining villages compelled the

authorities to revise the design

RELIGIOUS CONNECTIVITY

The proposed

Shaktipeeth Mahamarg connects Renukamata Mandir in Mahur, Tulja Bhavani Mandir

in Tuljapur, Mahalaxmi Ambadevi Mandir in Kolhapur, Saptashringi Temple in

Vani, Nashik; Pandharpur, Akkalokot and Aundha Nagnaoth.

All these places

are visited by thousands of devotees every year. These places are considered

most sacred placed among Hindus.

PRESENT STATUS

The 6-lane

controlled access expressway is targeted to be completed by 2028-2029 and is in

preconstruction phase.

The land to be

acquired is about 75,000 hectares for which a loan of Rs 20,000 crore is being

sought for pay compensation against the acquired land.

The land

acquisition is facing hurdles because of agitation by the farmers. Whether the

agitation in political or by the affected farmers is an unanswered question.

The State

Government, however, is confident of convincing the farmers for the Shaktipeeth

Mahamarg.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar