The Maharashtra government has decided to alter the alignment of the proposed Shakti Peeth route connecting Nagpur to Goa amid sustained opposition to the original plan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the state Assembly on Sunday. Fadnavis announced that the revised alignment of the Nagpur–Goa Expressway, also known as the Shakti Peeth route, will now pass through Solapur and Sangli districts.
He explained that earlier objections stemmed from the route running parallel to an existing national highway, raising concerns over the need for a greenfield corridor. “A greenfield highway connects areas that were previously untouched and brings new development opportunities,” the chief minister said, adding that the new alignment from Solapur was finalised after discussions with legislators, including Jayakumar Gore.
The Shakti Peeth project aims to boost religious tourism, improve inter-district connectivity and generate local employment across Maharashtra. While local resistance had emerged along the earlier route, Fadnavis assured that the government would ensure no injustice to affected communities while implementing the revised plan.
