‘No objection from finance department': As Opposition calls for rethink, Devendra Fadnavis says Shaktipeeth Expressway still on
'There is no objection from the finance department. It has merely done its work of pointing out data and nothing else. Infrastructure across the world is built by availing loans,' Fadnavis said, speaking to reporters at the legislative building in Mumbai.
Saying that the construction of highways strengthens and expands the economy, Fadnavis said, 'There was opposition to the Samruddhi Expressway as well, but it has changed the face of many districts. The Shaktipeeth Expressway will change the face of Marathwada and the drought-affected region of the state.'
The Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway is one of the largest road infrastructure projects in the country. The proposed 802-kilometre high-speed corridor, officially known as the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Mahamarg, will connect Pavnar in Wardha district to Patradevi in Sindhudurg, near the Maharashtra-Goa border. The project had been halted due to farmers' protests in 2024.
In a note, the finance department on Tuesday raised questions over borrowing at a higher rate for the project, pointed to the financial status of the state and advised the government to rethink its Build Operate and Transfer policy for mega projects and prioritise projects by the appropriate use of available financial resources.
'Maharashtra's finance department has raised several critical points on loan guarantee extended to the Shaktipeeth Expressway. The state is staring at the potential financial mismanagement due to this project. At a time when farmers are protesting against the land acquisition for the project, such financial burden will damage the financial health of the country. It is time for the state government to rethink the project,' Supriya Sule, MP and NCP-SP working president, said.
Sule said that the Maharashtra government is facing a financial crunch to provide facilities of education, health and water, but wants to move ahead with a project which would be a financial burden on the state exchequer. 'We do not want Maharashtra to get caught in financial bankruptcy. The issue needs to be raised at the national level as well,' she said.
Congress MLC Satej Patil, who hails from Kolhapur and is leading the anti-Shaktipeeth expressway agitation, said that the finance department has raised questions on the financial structure of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation—it will implement the Shaktipeeth Expressway project—as well. 'It clearly shows that all is not well within the state government. There is disagreement within the state government itself over this project,' said Patil. He maintained that farmers across the state are opposing the project, and will continue to oppose it.
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