Fadnavis Slams Thackeray, Pawar for Creating Hurdles in Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway Project

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar for attempting to obstruct the land acquisition process for the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway, despite strong support from farmers for the project.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP-SCP president Sharad Pawar of attempting to create obstacles in the land acquisition process for the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway project. However, Fadnavis emphasized that the farmers wholeheartedly supported the project.

Thackeray's Opposition

Fadnavis, who was the chief minister of Maharashtra at the time, revealed that Thackeray had addressed public meetings in villages where land was to be acquired for the expressway project. He alleged that Thackeray discouraged villagers from giving up their land by claiming it would be forcibly taken from them.

Pawar's Involvement

Fadnavis also accused former Union minister Pawar of addressing meetings in Sambhajinagar to oppose the project. Despite these efforts to hinder the project, Fadnavis highlighted the government's generous offer to the villagers.

Attractive Compensation

Fadnavis stated that the government offered the villagers rates that were four times the value of the land to be acquired for the project. Additionally, he mentioned that the villagers would receive five times the value of the land if they voluntarily handed it over to the government through consent orders.

Swift Land Acquisition

Fadnavis proudly announced that land acquisition in the village where Thackeray had addressed a public meeting was completed within a single day. He explained that the land was acquired through consent orders, with registrations and payments made directly to the villagers' bank accounts.

Shinde's Role

Fadnavis acknowledged the efforts of Eknath Shinde, who was the PWD Minister at the time, in facilitating the smooth acquisition of land. Shinde personally visited the village and signed the registration papers, ensuring the project's progress.

Infrastructure Achievements

Fadnavis highlighted his accomplishments in completing significant infrastructure projects under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He mentioned the successful completion of the Atal Setu-Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and the Navi Mumbai greenfield airport, both of which had been pending for several decades.

Fadnavis's remarks underscore the commitment of the Maharashtra government to infrastructure development and the challenges faced in acquiring land for such projects. Despite opposition from certain political leaders, the support of the farmers and the government's attractive compensation packages have enabled the successful execution of these vital infrastructure initiatives.