The Maharashtra State Cabinet has approved a substantial budget—₹20,787 crore—to accelerate construction of the 802.6 km access-controlled highway that will link Pavnar (Wardha) to Patradevi on the Maharashtra–Goa border

The expressway, to be implemented by MSRDC, is inspired by the Nagpur–Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg and is expected to slash current travel times from around 18–20 hours to just 8–10 hours It will traverse 12 districts in Maharashtra, connect to the Konkan Expressway at Goa, and link major pilgrimage sites—like Mahur, Tuljapur, Kolhapur, and Pandharpur—enhancing religious tourism .

Despite government assurances of engaging with landowners sensitively, local opposition remains in Kolhapur, Nanded, Sangli, and elsewhere. Protests—including land-acquisition notices burning in Kolhapur and a rasta-roko planned on June 27—underscore the ongoing friction.

Additional updates confirm that joint land measurements are ongoing and expected to finish by August, with acquisition to be completed by December this year.

Overall, these latest steps signal a decisive push to advance the Shaktipeeth Expressway—balancing ambitious infrastructure goals with the complexities of land rights and environmental concerns.

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