Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed officials to accelerate work on the Shaktipeeth Highway project, which aims to connect Nagpur and Goa. This ambitious initiative is designed to improve connectivity, boost commercial opportunities, and promote tourism across Maharashtra.
Key points from the CM’s directives
- Expedited implementation: Fadnavis emphasized the need for swift action on the project, urging officials to begin necessary procedures immediately.
- Stakeholder consensus: The CM stressed the importance of implementing the project with agreement from all stakeholders to ensure smooth execution.
- Quality standards: Fadnavis insisted on exemplary construction standards and efficient execution of the highway.
- Addressing farmers’ concerns: Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule assured that farmers’ issues would be resolved through dialogue before proceeding with the project.
Project details
- The Shaktipeeth Highway will connect major religious sites and stimulate the tourism sector.
- MSRDC has increased the proposed length of the six-lane expressway from 760km to 805km, making it Maharashtra’s largest greenfield expressway.
- The project aims to reduce travel time from Nagpur to Goa from 21 hours to just 8 hours.
Additional infrastructure initiatives discussed
- Samruddhi Mahamarg: Completion of the remaining 76km stretch by February.
- Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Finalizing the 13.30km missing link.
- Nashik-Mumbai National Highway: Expediting improvement works.
- New Mantralaya building: Construction of a seven-storey building to commence within 100 days.
The CM also emphasized the need for rigorous quality checks, robust monitoring systems, and a financial framework for PWD projects. He proposed adopting a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model for road construction and creating dedicated divisions within PWD to manage construction projects for other departments.