Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Conducts Bus Inspection of Palkhi Highway; Projects Worth Crores Announced

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inspected the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg on Thursday, traveling by bus with journalists to review the progress of the ₹12,000 crore spiritual corridor

Pune | May 15, 2026: In a unique departure from standard high-security convoys, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari opted to travel by bus to personally inspect the ongoing construction of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg. During the visit, Gadkari revealed that 80% of the work is already complete, with the entire highway expected to be dedicated to the service of devotees within the next six months.

To ensure the comfort of the lakhs of Varkaris who participate in the annual pilgrimage, the Minister highlighted that the project includes a dedicated 3.5-meter wide “Palkhi Lane” alongside the main highway and service roads. “We have invested over ₹12,000 crore into this route to ensure that the faith of the Varkaris is matched by world-class infrastructure,” Gadkari stated while interacting with the media during the journey. He further noted that the conversion of state highways into national highways has facilitated projects worth nearly ₹6 lakh crore across Maharashtra.

The Minister also unveiled a series of “infrastructure gifts” for the region. To tackle chronic traffic congestion in the temple town of Jejuri, a new 2-km long flyover will be constructed at a cost of ₹250 crore. Additionally, a ₹97 crore transformation project for Phaltan city was announced. These projects aim to reduce accidents and streamline the movement of pilgrims visiting the Jejuri fort.

In another significant development for Pandharpur, Gadkari announced a new 9.50-km bypass on the Tembhurni-Pandharpur stretch. This bypass will divert traffic coming from Shirdi, Ahilyanagar, and Tembhurni directly toward Bijapur-Mangalwedha, bypassing the city center. Once completed, this will provide Pandharpur with a full ring road, marking a major milestone in the spiritual city’s urban development.

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