Maharashtra has been building expressways with ambition, but the Shaktipeeth Expressway sits in a different category from the Samruddhi Mahamarg or the Pune Ring Road — this is a project whose route was designed as much around spiritual geography as commercial connectivity. The name Shaktipeeth refers to the sacred sites of the goddess Shakti, and the expressway passes through three Shakta Pitha locations in Maharashtra — Kolhapur’s Mahalakshmi, Tuljapur’s Tuljabhavani, and Mahur’s Renukamata — making it a pilgrimage corridor as much as a freight or commuter highway.
In April 2026, the Maharashtra government announced a significant revision to the original alignment. Following sustained farmer protests in Kolhapur and Sangli districts over land acquisition, the route has been revised from the original 802-kilometre plan to an updated 856.76-kilometre alignment that begins at Digras in Wardha district and ends at Banda in Sindhudurg district. The revised plan modifies sections in Nanded, Hingoli, and the southern Maharashtra districts while keeping the Wardha, Yavatmal, Beed, and Latur sections unchanged. The expressway will ultimately connect to the Goa border at Patradevi.
Current Status: Planning and Early Construction Stage. Land acquisition underway with revisions. Completion expected 2028–29. No toll notified. Project under MSRDC.
Shaktipeeth Expressway Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Shaktipeeth Expressway (also: Nagpur-Goa Expressway) |
| Current Status | Planning / Early Land Acquisition Stage — route revised April 2026 |
| Completion Expected | 2028–29 |
| Route | Digras, Wardha District → Banda, Sindhudurg District (Goa border: Patradevi) |
| Revised Length | 856.76 km (revised from original 802 km) |
| States Covered | Maharashtra, Goa |
| Districts Covered | 13 Maharashtra districts + 1 Goa district |
| Key Districts | Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Latur, Beed, Dharashiv, Solapur, Pandharpur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg |
| Lanes | 6 lanes (access-controlled) |
| Speed Limit | 120 km/h (planned design speed) |
| Toll Fee | Not yet notified |
| Pilgrimage Sites Connected | Kolhapur Mahalakshmi, Tuljapur Tuljabhavani, Mahur Renukamata |
| Governing Authority | MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) |
| Travel Time After Completion | Nagpur to Goa: approx. 7–8 hours (versus 18–20 hours currently) |
Route and Location
The revised alignment begins at Digras in Wardha district — near Nagpur’s southwestern approach — and runs southward through the Vidarbha, Marathwada, and western Maharashtra landscape before descending through the Konkan and Sindhudurg terrain toward the Goa border. The route passes through some of Maharashtra’s most historically and spiritually significant territory.
The three Shakta Pitha sites along or near the alignment justify the name and the pilgrimage traffic dimension that makes this expressway different from Maharashtra’s primarily industrial or commercial corridors. The Pandharpur zone, associated with the Vithoba temple and the enormous Vari pilgrimage tradition, also falls within the expressway’s influence zone.
Speed Limits and Toll
At 120 km/h design speed, Shaktipeeth Expressway will match Maharashtra’s premium expressway class when operational. Toll fees have not been notified — the project remains in planning and early construction stages with full commissioning targeted for 2028–29. The revised alignment through Sindhudurg district will require additional environmental assessment given the region’s ecologically sensitive Konkan coastal terrain.
Nearby Areas
Pandharpur: Maharashtra’s most visited pilgrimage destination, the site of the Vitthal-Rukmini temple that draws millions of Warkari pilgrims during the biannual Vari festivals, is within the expressway’s influence zone in Solapur district. Kolhapur: The southern Maharashtra city famous for its Mahalakshmi temple, Kolhapuri footwear industry, and distinctive cuisine sits along the expressway’s southern alignment. Sindhudurg: The coast of Sindhudurg — Maharashtra’s most ecologically pristine coastal district with its cashew plantations, coastal forts, and tourism potential — is the final stretch before the Goa connection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is Shaktipeeth Expressway and what is its current status?
A: An 856.76 km six-lane expressway connecting Wardha to the Goa border through 13 Maharashtra districts — in planning and early land acquisition stage. Completion expected 2028–29.
Q2. Why was the Shaktipeeth Expressway route revised?
A: Farmer protests in Kolhapur and Sangli over land acquisition prompted the Maharashtra government to revise the alignment in April 2026, increasing the length from 802 km to 856.76 km.
Q3. What pilgrimage sites does Shaktipeeth Expressway connect?
A: Three Shakta Pitha sites — Kolhapur Mahalakshmi, Tuljapur Tuljabhavani, and Mahur Renukamata — plus the Pandharpur zone.
Q4. What is the toll fee on Shaktipeeth Expressway?
A: Not yet notified — the expressway is not operational. Toll rates will be announced closer to commissioning in 2028–29.
Q5. How much travel time will Shaktipeeth Expressway save?
A: Nagpur to Goa will reduce from 18 to 20 hours to approximately 7 to 8 hours after completion.