India’s Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway Nears Reality as Historic Highway Project Targets 8-Hour Nagpur-Goa Journey

Written By: Sanjana Dubey

Sanjana Dubey

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September 6, 2026 1:19 PM

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Land acquisition for the first phase of India’s Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway has begun. The move will jump start tourism in the state. The Shaktipeeth Expressway will move to the construction phase as Maharashtra progresses the main step of land acquisition for the 856-kilometer corridor. With 6 lanes and an access-control design, the greenfield expressway will help modernize the east-west road network of Maharashtra for years to come.

The proposed highway will stretch from Digraj in Wardha district to Banda in Sindhudurg near the Maharashtra-Goa border. Once completed, it is expected to significantly reduce long-distance travel times, improve access to major pilgrimage destinations and strengthen connections between agricultural, industrial and tourism centres across the state.

Shaktipeeth Expressway Set to Reshape Maharashtra Connectivity

The Shaktipeeth Expressway has been planned as one of Maharashtra’s largest road infrastructure corridors. Covering approximately 856 kilometres, the expressway will provide a direct route through several regions that currently depend on longer and more congested roads.

The corridor will run across Vidarbha, Marathwada and western Maharashtra before reaching Sindhudurg near Goa. By creating a more direct east-west connection, the project is expected to make movement between Maharashtra’s interior districts and the Konkan-Goa belt considerably easier.

The access-controlled highway will feature six lanes and is intended to support faster vehicle movement by reducing interference from local traffic and congested urban stretches.

Thirteen Maharashtra Districts to Gain Direct Access

The revised alignment of the Shaktipeeth Expressway will pass through 13 districts, covering around 40 talukas and 409 villages.

The districts included in the route are Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur and Sindhudurg.

This extensive alignment will connect several agricultural belts, industrial zones, pilgrimage centres and tourism destinations. Improved road access across these districts could strengthen mobility for residents while providing businesses with quicker connections to markets and distribution centres.

The corridor could also reduce dependence on existing routes that experience congestion and longer journey times.

Nagpur-Goa Journey Could Fall to Around Eight Hours

One of the biggest expected benefits of the Shaktipeeth Expressway is the sharp reduction in road travel time between Nagpur and Goa.

The journey currently takes approximately 18 to 21 hours by road, depending on the route and traffic conditions. The proposed expressway is expected to bring the travel time down to around eight hours.

Although the expressway itself begins in Wardha, its integration with the wider road network is intended to provide a much faster connection between the Nagpur region and the Maharashtra-Goa border.

The substantial reduction in journey time could benefit tourists, pilgrims, commercial traffic and long-distance travellers moving across the state.

Land Acquisition Becomes Critical Step for Construction

Land acquisition remains one of the most important stages before large-scale construction can begin.

The project requires land across 409 villages in 13 districts. Authorities must identify the specific parcels required for the alignment and complete joint measurements before land, buildings, farms and other affected assets can be assessed.

Compensation must then be determined for eligible landowners and affected properties.

Around ₹20,787 crore has been provisioned for land acquisition connected with the project. Progress in this process is therefore considered essential for moving the expressway from planning towards physical construction.

The overall project has been associated with investment exceeding ₹1 lakh crore, making it one of Maharashtra’s most significant proposed road infrastructure developments.

Religious Tourism Could Receive Major Connectivity Boost

Religious tourism is a central part of the project’s planning, reflected in the name “Shaktipeeth Expressway”.

The highway is expected to improve access to several important religious and pilgrimage destinations across Maharashtra. These include Mahur, Aundha Nagnath, Parli Vaijnath, Tuljapur and Kolhapur.

Better road connections could make multi-destination pilgrimage journeys easier while reducing travel times between religious centres located across different parts of the state.

The improvement in visitor access could also support tourism-linked businesses in towns along the corridor. Hotels, accommodation providers, restaurants, local transport operators and other tourism services could benefit from increased movement of pilgrims and domestic travellers.

Agriculture and Logistics Could Gain Faster Market Access

Agriculture could be among the sectors to benefit most from improved road infrastructure.

A faster highway network could allow farmers and agricultural businesses to transport produce to larger markets within shorter periods. Reduced transport times may also lower logistics costs and help minimise losses for time-sensitive agricultural goods.

The expressway could also encourage growth in logistics and warehousing. Distribution centres, storage facilities, truck terminals and transport services could develop around major interchanges and strategically located towns.

Better access between eastern Maharashtra and western markets could make freight movement more efficient across the state.

Industry and Manufacturing Could See New Opportunities

Improved connectivity may also provide advantages for manufacturing and industrial activity.

Businesses could gain faster access to raw materials, suppliers and markets, while industrial locations near expressway interchanges may become more attractive for future development.

The corridor could support the movement of finished goods from interior Maharashtra towards western parts of the state and the Konkan-Goa region.

Increased accessibility may also stimulate demand for commercial, industrial, residential and mixed-use development near selected interchanges and growth centres.

Construction Could Generate Wider Economic Activity

The construction phase itself could create demand across several infrastructure-related industries.

Large road projects require cement, steel, machinery, engineering services, contractors, transport operators and other materials and services.

Roadside businesses may also see opportunities as activity increases along the development corridor. Fuel stations, vehicle servicing facilities, retail outlets and other transport-related services could benefit as traffic volumes rise over time.

Tourism and hospitality businesses could experience further growth once faster road access begins attracting more travellers towards destinations along the route.

Shaktipeeth Expressway Could Become a Major Maharashtra Growth Corridor

The Shaktipeeth Expressway has the potential to become far more than a high-speed road connection. Its proposed route links agricultural districts, industrial centres, pilgrimage destinations and tourism areas across a vast section of Maharashtra.

By cutting the Nagpur-Goa road journey from as much as 21 hours to around eight hours, the project could significantly change how people and goods move across the state.

The immediate focus remains on completing the extensive land acquisition process across 409 villages. Progress in securing the required land and addressing compensation-related issues will be crucial before construction can accelerate.

If delivered as planned, the 856-kilometre Shaktipeeth Expressway could emerge as a major economic and tourism corridor, strengthening connectivity between Vidarbha, Marathwada, western Maharashtra, Konkan and the Goa border while supporting agriculture, logistics, industry and regional development.