Opposition to ‘Shaktipeeth Highway’ Will Fade Like ‘Samruddhi Expressway’: Deputy CM Eknath Shinde

Nanded : Highways serve as game changers for development, and the Samruddhi Expressway has proven this. Initially, there was opposition to the Samruddhi Expressway, but over time, it subsided. Similarly, the resistance against the Shaktipeeth Highway will also diminish gradually, said Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde while addressing a gathering in Nanded.

Eknath Shinde was on a one-day visit to Nanded, attending various programs throughout the day. He received a grand welcome upon his arrival at Guru Gobind Singhji Nanded Airport in the afternoon. Following this, he visited the holy Shri Huzur Sahib Sachkhand Gurdwara for darshan before addressing a public meeting.

Shaktipeeth Highway: A Model for Agricultural Growth

Speaking to the press in the evening, Shinde expressed confidence that the opposition to the Shaktipeeth Highway would eventually fade. He emphasized that highways like Samruddhi and Shaktipeeth are not just transportation routes but also new economic models that boost agriculture-based economies in their respective regions.

He reassured that the Shaktipeeth Highway would not be imposed on the public. If there is opposition in certain areas, the government will adjust the road alignment accordingly. However, regional connectivity remains a crucial aspect of the project.

Drawing parallels with the Samruddhi Expressway, Shinde pointed out that while it initially faced resistance, its benefits became evident over time, leading to the opposition fading away. He urged everyone to support this major infrastructure project.

No Government Schemes Will Be Discontinued

Shinde also assured that no government scheme would be discontinued, including the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana and other initiatives introduced by the state. Furthermore, he announced that the Mahayuti government is reviving stalled projects to eliminate Marathwada’s long-standing drought crisis.

The Marathwada Water Grid and Jalyukt Shivar Yojana, which had been halted, will be restarted to address water scarcity in the region. Additionally, the government has approved 11 irrigation projects for Marathwada, he added.

The event was attended by MLAs Hemant Patil (Chairman, Balasaheb Thackeray Haridra Research Center), Balaji Kalyankar, Baburao Kadam Kohlikar, Anand Patil Bondharkar, Santosh Bangar, and several other officials and dignitaries.