Shaktipeeth E-way stir: Farmers from 12 districts block roads, highways

Fear loss of land and livelihood; threaten to intensify protest if government refuses to back down

- Faisal Malik and Shrinivas Deshpande

MUMBAI/PUNE: Farmers and public representatives staged coordinated protests across 12 districts of western Maharashtra and Marathwada on Tuesday, opposing the proposed ₹86,358 crore Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project, and threatened to intensify the stir if the state government remained firm in its resolve.

The 802.592-kilometer-long greenfield expressway will run through 12 districts — Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg. On Tuesday, affected farmers from all these districts blocked roads and highways to express their protest; some even tried to jump into the Panchganga river, but police prevented them from taking the step.

In Sangli district, many protesters gathered at Ankali Phata and blocked traffic on the Sangli-Kolhapur highway, causing major traffic disruptions. Police detained several protesters.