Maharashtra Farmers Intensify Agitation Against Proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway
Farmers across several districts in Maharashtra have significantly escalated their agitation on Monday, vehemently opposing the proposed 800-kilometer Shaktipeeth Expressway that aims to connect Nagpur and Goa. The protests, spearheaded by leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, saw demonstrations at collectorates in Kolhapur, Sangli, Latur, Parbhani, and Beed.
The expressway project, which traverses through 12 districts including six in the Marathwada region, has sparked widespread anger among farmers who fear losing their only source of livelihood. Tensions have heightened following the circulation of videos depicting women protesters being manhandled and some women police personnel sustaining injuries during a land survey-related confrontation in two Parbhani villages.
Political Leaders Voice Strong Opposition
In Parbhani, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Jadhav led the demonstration, accusing the police of behaving "like Nizam's Razakars." He asserted, "They brutally assaulted women farmers. Till such officers are removed, there will be no discussion on the expressway. If farmers feel we are misleading them, we will step back. The government is spreading misinformation."
In Sangli, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana chief Raju Shetti raised serious questions about the project's financial aspects. "The Centre is building a six-lane highway from Nashik to Akkalkot at Rs 51 crore per kilometer, but the Shaktipeeth Expressway is estimated at Rs 124 crore per kilometer. Why such a huge difference? This is nothing but an attempt to loot people and finance the 2029 elections," he stated.
Farmers Demand Accountability and Project Scrapping
In Kolhapur, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Devane joined forces with Left leaders Girish Phonde, Uday Narkar, and Samrat More, alongside farmers from villages likely to be affected by the revised alignment. They alleged that even after the Chief Minister's announcement of alignment changes in Kolhapur and Sangli, villagers along the new route have begun opposing it.
They demanded that local MLAs break their silence, warning that farmers would otherwise treat them as "partners in crime." Devane emphasized, "If the government forcefully acquires land, farmers will resist even at the cost of their lives. There is no need for this expressway when the Nagpur-Ratnagiri highway is almost ready and traffic is already low. The new road will only burden taxpayers."
Protests Continue Despite Assurances
In Parbhani, despite a verbal assurance of a temporary halt to the land survey, farmers backed by Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Left parties staged a rasta roko at Shingnapur T-point for over two hours. They demanded the scrapping of the project and action against officials involved in the February 20 incident in Sahajapur.
Satish Ghatage, sarpanch of Salapur and member of the Action Committee Against the expressway, declared, "We have no written order stopping the survey. We will not bow to pressure." Parbhani MP Sanjay Jadhav reiterated that farmers would not let the government "snatch their livelihood," arguing that existing pilgrim routes had already been upgraded. One protester, Seema Bagal, was hospitalized after complaining of dizziness.
Agitation Spreads to Other Districts
In Nanded, farmer groups submitted a memorandum seeking the project's cancellation. Farmers' leader Satish Kulkarni warned, "Atrocities like the February 20 assault will not be tolerated. We will intensify our agitation democratically."
The state government has deployed revenue officials to carry out the alignment marking, but farmers have alleged police high-handedness and insisted they will not permit any survey on their fields. The agitation highlights deep-seated concerns over land acquisition and the economic viability of the expressway project.
