Maharashtra Cabinet clears ₹20,787 crore for Shaktipeeth Expressway amid farmers' opposition
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.
Calling the government 'robbers' acting like 'owners,' Mr. Shetti alleged that land was being snatched from farmers for private gain and toll collection. 'They are trying to spend ₹86,000 crore for a project worth ₹36,000 crore. This includes ₹50,000 crore worth of corruption,' he claimed. He also questioned the necessity of the expressway when a parallel highway between Nagpur and Kolhapur already exists.
The CMO said the expressway would reduce travel time between Nagpur and Goa from 18 to 8 hours. It would connect key Shakti Peethas across the State — including Mahur, Tuljapur, Mukundaraj Swami, Jogai Devi, Aundhanaganath, Parli Vaijnath, Karanja-Lad, Akkalkot, Gangapur, Narsobachi Wadi, and Audumbara — enhancing pilgrimage connectivity across Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg districts.
Increase in allowance for tribal students
The Cabinet also approved a revision of allowances for food, subsistence, and educational materials for tribal students staying in hostels, aligning with the inflation index. The subsistence allowance has been raised from ₹800 to ₹1,400 at the divisional level, from ₹600 to ₹1,300 at the district level, and from ₹500 to ₹1,000 at the rural/taluka level. The additional allowance for girls has been increased from ₹100 to ₹150.
There are 490 government hostels in the State — 284 for boys and 206 for girls — with a total capacity of 58,700 students, according to the CMO.
Other Cabinet decisions
The Cabinet approved a provision of ₹862 crore for the Koyna Dam Paitha Power House (Left Bank) Hydroelectric Project. It also cleared the free transfer of land reserved for the High Court in Bandra (East) to the Public Works Department.
As part of this, 30.16 acres out of 90 acres in the government colony at Bandra (East) will be handed over in phases to construct a new complex for the High Court. Of this, 9.64 acres have already been transferred in the first two phases.
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