Latest news with #Shaktipeeths
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Month-long Shravani Mela starts in Deoghar, Dumka
Dumka: Shravani Mela, one of the largest religious congregations in the country, was inaugurated by the state minister for tourism, Sudivya Kumar, and his cabinet colleagues, Deepika Pandey Singh and Sanjay Prasad Yadav, at the Dumma interstate border in Deoghar on Thursday, the day of 'Asarh Purnima'. A total of 11 priests chanted Vedic mantras while assisting the ministers in performing rituals to mark the beginning of the month-long event. Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad pay offerings at the Baidyanath Dham, which is one of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas and Shaktipeeths, in Deoghar during this period. Sudivya said, "The state govt plans to construct a foot-over-bridge between Khijuria and Mansarovar for the ' kanwariyas ' travelling to Babadham. The facility would also help to manage traffic movement in the temple town throughout the year." AI-chatbot, radio-frequency identification, face recognition cameras, and other AI-based electronic gadgets being used by the local administration to ensure a smooth event was highlighted. Ministers Deepika and Sanjay wished that the devotees have a pleasant experience. At Basukinath in Dumka, which is also home to another famous Shiva temple, Jarmundi BJP MLA and his JMM counterpart from Jama, Lois Marandi, inaugurated the Shravani Mela in the presence of senior administrative and police officials. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Relaxare la pensie, cu NN Pensia Facultativă NN Vezi oferta Undo They expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the district administration for the devotees' amenities. Devotees will start arriving at both shrines from Friday when the holy month begins. They start their journey from Sultanganj in Bihar and reach Babadham by undertaking a 100 km journey on foot, as a vast section of them also prefer to visit the Basukinath temple to mark the completion of their pilgrimage.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers demonstrate against land survey for Shaktipeeth expressway project
Farmers in various districts of Marathwada demonstrated on the streets on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) opposing the land survey for the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project. Agitating farmers expressed concerns over the acquisition of their fertile land for the 802-kilometre greenfield, access-controlled, six-lane corridor that will connect central and western Maharashtra to Goa. The protests were renewed after the Maharashtra Cabinet on June 24 approved the acquisition of land for the project. Also Read | Maharashtra Cabinet clears ₹20,787 crore for Shaktipeeth Expressway amid farmers' opposition The expressway will pass through Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Beed, Latur and Dharashiv districts in the Marathwada region, an official said. Farmers staged a sit-in protest on a road at Malegaon in Ardhapur taluka of Nanded district, vowing not to part with their land. "The government has ignored agriculturists while surveying for the Shaktipeeth project. We will oppose the survey," Nanded MP Ravindra Chavan told PTI. Also Read | Farmers march to Mumbai, demand scrapping of Shaktipeeth project Farmers sat on the Nanded-Washim Road in Hingoli district, briefly disrupting the vehicular traffic. "I am opposing this project as my orchard will be acquired, rendering me landless," a protester said. Another farmer said the compensation for the acquisition of land won't last forever. "I hold two acres of land which will be acquired for the expressway project. What's the use of compensation? It will not last forever. As a farmer, I am dependent on land", he said. Similar agitations were staged in parts of Beed and Dharashiv districts. Named after the revered Shakti Peethas or important Hindu pilgrimage sites, the expressway is envisioned to improve connectivity to religious sites and boost regional development. The expressway will link 18 major pilgrimage sites, including Shaktipeeths such as those dedicated to goddesses Renuka Devi in Mahur, Tulja Bhavani in Tuljapur, Mahalakshmi in Kolhapur, and Patradevi in Goa. Originating from Pavnar in Wardha district in eastern Maharashtra to Patradevi in Sindhudurg on the Maharashtra-Goa border, the expressway will pass through 12 districts.
India Today
25-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Maharashtra approves Rs 20,787 crores for Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway
The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved 20,787 crores in land acquisition for the 802 km Maharashtra Shaktipeeth expressway connecting Pavnar (Wardha) to Patradevi (Sindhudurg) on the Maharashtra-Goa expressway will link 12 districts namely Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg and connect to the Konkan aims to enhance pilgrimage tourism by linking major spiritual sites, including Shaktipeeths like Mahur, Tuljapur, and Kolhapur, as well as Ambajogai, Pandharpur's Shri Vitthal Rukmini Temple, and Jyotirlingas at Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath. The corridor will cut travel time from Nagpur to Goa from 18 to 8 However, despite its potential to boost tourism, the project faces strong opposition from farmers, particularly in Western Maharashtra, over land minister Hasan Mushrif and Health minister Prakash Abitkar, both from Kolhapur raised concerns in the cabinet, citing farmer backlash that impacted the Mahayuti coalition in recent elections. They urged dialogue with affected farmers to address response, the cabinet approved a partial alignment from Pavanar to Sangli, covering over 700 km, while scrapping the route through Kolhapur's Shirol, Karvir, Hatkanangale, Kagal, Bhudargad, and Ajara Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed MSRDC to propose an alternative alignment for the Sangli-Sindhudurg stretch, with consultations planned involving local stakeholders told sources. Also, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar while speaking to reporters confirmed the government's willingness to adjust the alignment to address farmer concerns, emphasising no forced expressway, positioned as a cultural and religious corridor, will enhance connectivity across Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Western Maharashtra, linking key pilgrimage sites like Mahalaxmi Temple (Kolhapur), Tulja Bhavani Temple (Dharashiv), and Renuka Mata Shakti Peeth (Nanded).The project, executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), includes 12,000 crores from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) loan for acquiring nearly 7500 hectares of land. - Ends
News18
24-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Religious Tourism, Student Welfare, Urban Infra Get Boost In Maharashtra Cabinet Decisions
Last Updated: The state cabinet has sanctioned Rs 20,000 crore for the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway, to link 18 significant pilgrimage sites across the state In a major boost to both infrastructure and welfare, the Maharashtra cabinet has cleared several key proposals, including the ambitious Shaktipeeth Expressway connecting Pavnar in Wardha district to Patradevi on the Maharashtra-Goa border. The expressway aims to link 18 significant pilgrimage sites across the state, including the three and a half Shaktipeeths, two Jyotirlingas, Pandharpur, and Ambejogai. The state cabinet has approved the planning and land acquisition for the high-speed corridor, to be developed through a dedicated project corporation. A provision of Rs 20,000 crore has been made for its implementation, aiming to improve regional connectivity and boost religious tourism. Focusing on the welfare of tribal communities, the state government has approved a substantial increase in allowances for students residing in government-run tribal hostels. The monthly subsistence and meal allowances will now be doubled, offering relief to families from economically weaker backgrounds. Furthermore, the annual allowance for the purchase of educational materials has also been significantly increased, a step that is expected to enhance access to quality education for thousands of tribal students across Maharashtra. The cabinet also granted revised administrative approval for the Koyna Dam Base Hydroelectric Project, one of the state's key renewable energy initiatives. In a move aimed at simplifying the tax regime, the government will introduce a new Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax Bill in the upcoming legislative session. Amendments to facilitate the settlement of pending taxes, interest, penalties, and late fees for public sector undertakings will also be introduced. Other notable decisions include a waiver of Rs 31.75 crore in resettlement fees for people displaced from land reserved for the High Court complex at Bandra East. These premises will now be transferred to the public works department free of cost. The government also approved the use of 7,000 sq m of cemetery land in Mouje Chikhali, Pimpri-Chinchwad, for a sewage treatment plant. Additionally, the state will guarantee a Rs 2,000 crore HUDCO loan under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme, benefitting water and sewage projects in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur, and Mira-Bhayandar. First Published:
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra Cabinet gives nod to acquire land, approves Rs 20,000 cr
The Maharashtra Cabinet Tuesday approved acquisition of land for the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project, which was halted due to farmers' protests in Kolhapur in 2024. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also approved Rs 20,000 crore for land acquisition and planning, while the entire project cost is estimated to be Rs 80,000 crore. 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. Once completed, the expresway will link 18 major pilgrimage destinations, including three-and-a-half Shaktipeeths, two Jyotirlingas, and spiritual centres such as Pandharpur and Ambajogai, cutting across 11 districts. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will implement the project, with the land acquisition and initial planning process to be overseen by the Public Works Department (PWD). The Cabinet decision comes nearly six months after the Devendra Fadnavis-led government formally revived the project in January 2025, following a period of uncertainty. The previous Mahayuti government, under then CM Eknath Shinde, in June 2024 put the project on hold after mounting opposition from farmers and political leaders, including members of the ruling coalition. The primary concern was the large-scale acquisition of private agricultural land. Of the 8,419 hectares required for the project, nearly 8,100 hectares belong to individual farmers. Protests, particularly in Kolhapur and surrounding sugar belt districts, gained momentum, prompting the then government to put the project in abeyance. Just days after being sworn in, CM Fadnavis directed the PWD to resume work on the corridor, signalling renewed political will to push forward one of the most ambitious greenfield infrastructure projects in the state. Beyond transportation, the Shaktipeeth Expressway is projected as a religious and cultural corridor aimed at enhancing pilgrimage connectivity across Vidarbha, Marathwada, and western Maharashtra. The expressway will pass through Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Latur, Beed, Dharashiv, Solapur, Kolhapur and Sindhudurg. Officials say the project will significantly reduce travel time, boost tourism, and support local economies in regions that remain underdeveloped or poorly connected by rail and road.
