The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) approved the design and ₹20,787 crore provision for planning and land acquisition for the 802-km-long Shaktipeeth Expressway, despite strong resistance from farmers in the proposed corridor. The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, also approved a loan of ₹12,000 crore from HUDCO for acquisition of approximately 7,500 hectares of land. The project will be implemented by the Maharashtra Road Development Corporation, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
The expressway is planned to connect 12 districts from Pawnar in Wardha to Patradevi on the Maharashtra–Goa border. However, farmer representatives reiterated their refusal to allow land acquisition.
“No matter what, we won’t let this happen,” said former MP and farmer leader Raju Shetti. “Farmers from 12 districts did not let the government survey the land despite heavy police security. If they bring a drone, we will throw stones and destroy them,” he told The Hindu.
Mr. Shetti, who has been at the forefront of the protests, accused the government of pushing the project despite farmers’ resistance since its approval in 2023. Sit-in demonstrations, including one at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in March, were organised under his leadership.
