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After Samruddhi Highway, Maharashtra CM Aims For Shaktipeeth Expressway To Link 12 Pilgrimage Sites
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CM Devendra Fadnavis is now looking to complete the Shaktipeeth Expressway, an 805-kilometre, six-lane greenfield corridor that will span from Wardha in Vidarbha to Banda in Konkan
With the final stretch of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg inaugurated, Maharashtra is now preparing for another infrastructure project — the Shaktipeeth Expressway.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the state will focus on completion of the expressway, which will connect key religious and economic regions of the state, significantly boosting the long-neglected Marathwada region.
CM Fadnavis has turned his focus toward the Shaktipeeth Expressway, an 805-kilometre, six-lane greenfield corridor that will span from Wardha in Vidarbha to Banda in Konkan. The proposed route will traverse 12 districts: Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg.
This expressway aims to connect three major Shaktipeeths—Kolhapur's Mahalakshmi temple, Tuljapur's Tulja Bhavani temple, and Mahur's Renuka Devi temple—as well as other important religious destinations, including Parli Vaijnath, Aundha Nagnath, Pandharpur, Akkalkot, Ganagapur, and Karanja Lad. In total, 12 major pilgrimage and cultural sites will be connected.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 86,000 crore and will include 48 major bridges, 30 tunnels, eight railway crossings, and 26 interchanges. It is envisioned as both a spiritual and industrial corridor, intended to reshape Marathwada's economy and improve connectivity across south-central Maharashtra.
The Shaktipeeth Expressway, like the Samruddhi corridor, is planned with sustainability and industrial growth in mind. Gas pipelines are being laid alongside the road, enabling gas supply to industries situated along the route. Smart infrastructure features, including solar energy usage and roadside logistics hubs, are also planned.
CM Fadnavis emphasised that the expressway is not merely a road project but a vision to economically integrate regions left out of the state's growth narrative. The Marathwada region, in particular, is expected to benefit through enhanced industrialisation and tourism. He reaffirmed that, just as the Samruddhi Highway was completed despite doubts and opposition, the Shaktipeeth Expressway will also be delivered with the same resolve.
A truly historic and emotional moment – the dream of a 'Samruddha' Maharashtra has come true!'Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg' is now complete —it's not just a road, but a strong step towards a brighter was only possible because… — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) June 6, 2025
MUMBAI-NAGPUR SAMRUDDHI MAHAMARG
The final leg of the Samruddhi Expressway, from Igatpuri to Amne, was inaugurated recently, marking the completion of the 701-km super expressway that connects Nagpur to Mumbai. This now allows uninterrupted travel between these two major cities in just eight hours. The project, lauded for its record-speed execution, incorporates 73 bridges, eco-sensitive underpasses and overpasses for wildlife, five twin tunnels, and 22 facility centres along the route. It also includes India's largest highway tunnel system equipped with automatic cooling mechanisms and provisions for 200 MW of solar power generation. The expressway, positioned as Maharashtra's economic corridor, now connects 24 districts directly to JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust), enhancing logistics, industrial connectivity, and interstate trade.
First Published:
June 06, 2025, 11:44 IST
