Maharashtra: Farmers protest against Rs 86,300 crore Shaktipeeth Highway project

Farmers from 12 districts assembled at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Wednesday, 12 March, to protest against the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, estimated at ₹86,300 crore. Their primary concern is the potential loss of agricultural land due to the project's land acquisition requirements.

They unanimously declared that officials would not be allowed to enter for land measurement for the purpose of acquisition.

Farmers from Kolhapur, Solapur, Sangli, Sindhudurg, Yavatmal, Wardha, Beed, Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, Dharashiv and Latur protested demanding the cancellation of the Shaktipeeth highway. From farmer organisations to legislators and from opposition to ruling parties extended support to the protest.

 NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil said, "The government is building this road without any demand from a single farmer. The government has adopted this new way to raise party funds and way of feeding contractors by putting the burden of it on all of us. We will take the initiative only if you, the farmers, are going to oppose this."

Congress MLC Satej Patil said, "This highway is being made for contractors. This government is doing the work that only the contractor wants."

The 802-kilometer greenfield expressway aims to connect Pavnar in Wardha district to Patradevi in Sindhudurg district, traversing 11 districts: Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Latur, Beed, Dharashiv, Solapur, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg.

The government asserts that this infrastructure will enhance connectivity to major religious and pilgrimage sites, reduce travel time, and stimulate economic growth in these regions.

Former MP and farmer leader Raju Shetti said, "A parallel road from Nagpur to Ratnagiri is in existence even today. But the traffic on this road is so sparse that it is running in losses. At a time when one kilometre of road costs Rs 35 crore, Shaktipeeth Road will cost Rs 107 crore. At a time when state government is reeling under debt, this project will further add the burden."

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve played a video clip of the then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's speech in Kolhapur. "He had said in a public speech that he would abolish the Shakti Peeth. So, if it is not abolished now, then Fadnavis is not listening to you," Danve taunted deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.

To further intensify the fight against the Shakti Peeth Highway, a gathering in Latur on 8 April has been decided. Gatherings in every district, house-to-house marches to demand answers from local representatives and ministers, and black flags in the fields to protest the government's decision have also been planned.

Wednesday’s agitation comes two days after deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar in his budget speech said that the land acquisition process for the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway covering a length of 760 km is in progress.

Public health minister Prakash Abitkar, who comes from Kolhapur district, where a section of the farming community, along with those from Sangli district, is opposing the project, said that the government is open to addressing their concerns and is providing higher compensation to the affected farmers.

With IANS inputs