Maharashtra: Modi Govt To Build Rs 12,000 Crore Highway To Pandharpur, To Have Dedicated Pedestrian Lanes For Warkaris

Union Minister of Road transport, Highways and Small Enterprises Nitin Gadkari on Thursday (7 January) reviewed the progress of Infrastructure projects in Maharashtra, reports Money Control.

Gadkari said that a Rs 12,000 crore cement concrete highway will be constructed connecting Alandi and Dehu Road with Hindu pilgrim town of Pandharpur in Maharashtra.

‘Palkhi Marg’ connecting Pandharpur with Alandi and Dehu Road will also have dedicated pedestrian lanes covered with grass on the sides which can be used by Warkaris to undertake their pilgrimage to Pandharpur. This initiative will considerably increase the safety and comfort of pilgrims.

Warkaris are the devotees of Lord Vitthala, a form of Sri Krishna, who is the presiding deity in Pandharpur. Lakhs of devotees undertake an annual pilgrimage by walking to Pandharpur from various parts of Maharashtra.

The minister also informed the media that the government is spending over Rs 1,200 crore on building wildlife crossings to be used by animals crossing the highways passing through green belts.

"We are not just building roads. We also want to plant trees and create infrastructure for safe movement of wildlife," the minister said.

A new road connecting Mumbai’s JNPT, India’s largest container port, and Rs 1 lakh crore greenfield Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will be constructed at a cost of Rs 12,000-15,000 crore, he said.

Gadkari also announced that a Rs 6,000 crore highway from Surat to Solapur via Nashik and Ahmednagar will be built to reduce the traffic burden on the mega cities of Mumbai and Pune.