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Chief Minister Fadnavis's claim: New plan for Shaktipeeth Highway, minimizing damage to irrigated farmland
Mumbai-Kolhapur, January 9, 2026 - The proposed Shaktipeeth Highway is an important project for social and economic transformation. Despite some opposition, we have prepared a new plan that will pass through the least amount of irrigated farmland and forest area, claimed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He clarified this while speaking to Lokmat.
The Chief Minister said, "The Shaktipeeth Highway was initially described as a path for social and economic transformation. Some farmers opposed it, but now everyone understands its importance. A new route has been prepared, which is intended to open up new areas. Since the Ratnagiri-Nagpur highway and the Shaktipeeth highway are running parallel, it could affect traffic, so we have included a new area."
He further added, "This new plan will involve minimal irrigated farmland and forest area. The districts will remain the same, only some talukas and areas have been changed. This route will definitely be constructed, and there will be no changes to it."
Speaking about the expansion of Kolhapur city limits, Fadnavis said, "Expansion of city limits is necessary for the development of Kolhapur city. Development is happening haphazardly in the outer areas. After the municipal elections, we will appeal to the people of Kolhapur, and they will respond."
Earlier, there was opposition to the expansion of city limits because taxes were increasing. Now, taxes have been levied at a lower rate, and this problem has been resolved, he added.
Mumbai-Kolhapur, January 9, 2026 - The proposed Shaktipeeth Highway is an important project for social and economic transformation. Despite some opposition, we have prepared a new plan that will pass through the least amount of irrigated farmland and forest area, claimed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He clarified this while speaking to Lokmat.
The Chief Minister said, "The Shaktipeeth Highway was initially described as a path for social and economic transformation. Some farmers opposed it, but now everyone understands its importance. A new route has been prepared, which is intended to open up new areas. Since the Ratnagiri-Nagpur highway and the Shaktipeeth highway are running parallel, it could affect traffic, so we have included a new area."
He further added, "This new plan will involve minimal irrigated farmland and forest area. The districts will remain the same, only some talukas and areas have been changed. This route will definitely be constructed, and there will be no changes to it."
Speaking about the expansion of Kolhapur city limits, Fadnavis said, "Expansion of city limits is necessary for the development of Kolhapur city. Development is happening haphazardly in the outer areas. After the municipal elections, we will appeal to the people of Kolhapur, and they will respond."
Earlier, there was opposition to the expansion of city limits because taxes were increasing. Now, taxes have been levied at a lower rate, and this problem has been resolved, he added.
The Chief Minister said, "The Shaktipeeth Highway was initially described as a path for social and economic transformation. Some farmers opposed it, but now everyone understands its importance. A new route has been prepared, which is intended to open up new areas. Since the Ratnagiri-Nagpur highway and the Shaktipeeth highway are running parallel, it could affect traffic, so we have included a new area."
He further added, "This new plan will involve minimal irrigated farmland and forest area. The districts will remain the same, only some talukas and areas have been changed. This route will definitely be constructed, and there will be no changes to it."
Speaking about the expansion of Kolhapur city limits, Fadnavis said, "Expansion of city limits is necessary for the development of Kolhapur city. Development is happening haphazardly in the outer areas. After the municipal elections, we will appeal to the people of Kolhapur, and they will respond."
Earlier, there was opposition to the expansion of city limits because taxes were increasing. Now, taxes have been levied at a lower rate, and this problem has been resolved, he added.
