Farmers march to Mumbai, demand scrapping of Shaktipeeth project

Farmers protest Maharashtra's Shaktipeeth Expressway, fearing land loss and inadequate compensation, sparking opposition from political leaders.

Amid the ongoing Budget session in Maharashtra, thousands of farmers from 12 districts marched to Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 12, 2025) opposing the Shaktipeeth Expressway, a pet project of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Farmers’ representative and former MP Raju Shetti accused the government of corruption involved in the ₹86,000 crore project, asking “if the project is about connecting the temples of Maharashtra, then why the road is being taken to Goa.”

“According to my study based on the information from the government offices, I calculated that one kilometre of the proposed six-lane road costs ₹35 crore, but the government has estimated ₹107 crore. We want to ask for whom the above ₹70 crore is for?” questioned Mr. Shetti, while speaking to farmers during the demonstration in Azad Maidan.

The proposed Nagpur to Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project, approved in 2023, has created a stir among the farmers across the State as the project entails acquiring land from farmers in several districts passing between Nagpur and Goa. The project requires a total land of 9,385 hectares, including 265 hectares of forest land. The permission for a joint survey of land acquisition has been given and counting will start soon in 11 districts, except Kolhapur.

A group of women from Shiroli taluka in Kolhapur district took the journey of eight hours to raise their voice and share the fear of losing their homes. “Whatever we have earned and saved our entire life will be lost,” Jyotiananda Kamble (39). Ms. Kamble lives with her family in gairan (pasture land) of her village. She constructed the house using all her savings and has been living here for the last 35 years. “The government promised of giving the ownership of land, but they did not and now plan to make us homeless,” she added.

At least 200 to 300 families are facing a similar situation.

No land, no livelihood

“The project wants to acquire 1.5 acre owned by me. I will be landless if they take away the land,” says Dhuleshwar Nheri (36), who travelled over 380 kilometres from Hatkanagale taluka to reach Mumbai and participate in the demonstration. His family owns three acres, Mr. Dhuleshwar’s share of land will be acquired if the project is implemented. He also mentioned that compensation is not promising, besides, it won’t suffice the needs of his children in future.