Shaktipeeth Highway Route Changed: Satara Included In ₹1 Lakh Crore Mega Project
Shaktipith Highway Route Finalised: 73 Villages In Kolhapur, 25 In Sangli To Be Connected
Revised alignment approved after protests; project expands across 13 districts with major route changes
The Maharashtra government has approved a revised plan for the ambitious Shaktipeeth Highway, a major infrastructure project connecting Nagpur to Goa. With this new decision, Satara district has now been officially included in the route, marking a significant shift in the original alignment.
The expressway, often described as one of the state’s biggest road projects, will now pass through 13 districts and around 40 talukas. The updated route includes regions such as Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg—and now Satara as well.
The inclusion of Satara comes after earlier plans faced strong opposition, especially from farmers in parts of western Maharashtra. Due to these protests, the government scrapped portions of the earlier route and redesigned the alignment to reduce conflict and move the project forward.
With the revised plan, the total length of the highway has increased to around 850–865 km, making it one of the longest expressways in the state. The project cost is estimated at nearly ₹1 lakh crore, reflecting its massive scale and strategic importance.
One of the biggest expected benefits is a drastic reduction in travel time. Once completed, the journey between Nagpur and Goa could drop from nearly 18 hours to around 8 hours, significantly boosting connectivity, trade, and tourism across Maharashtra.
The highway is also designed to connect key religious sites, including major Shaktipeeths like Mahur, Tuljapur, and Kolhapur, which is why it has been named the Shaktipeeth Highway.
However, the project continues to face criticism. Farmer groups have raised concerns about land acquisition, especially in fertile agricultural areas, and protests are still ongoing in some regions.
With the revised route now approved, the next steps will involve land acquisition and on-ground execution. The project is expected to play a major role in reshaping Maharashtra’s transport network, but its progress will depend on how the government addresses local concerns while pushing forward development.
