Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday assured lakhs of ‘warkaris’ undertaking the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur of a safer and smoother journey, stating that nearly 80 per cent of the work on the pilgrimage route has already been completed. He added that the remaining portions of the ‘palkhi marg’— the route used for the traditional processions—are expected to be finished within the next four to six months. Gadkari made the remarks while inspecting the Dive Ghat-Hadapsar stretch near Pune.
The minister highlighted a key safety measure introduced in the project, noting that a dedicated 3.5-metre-wide lane has been created exclusively for pedestrian ‘warkaris’, separating them from regular vehicular traffic. “This arrangement will help make the ‘wari’ safer and more organised,” he said. He also announced that Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) equipped with electric lifts for senior citizens and specially-abled pilgrims are being installed along the route.
Every year, lakhs of devotees of Lord Vitthal travel to the temple town of Pandharpur in Solapur district during Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi. The pilgrimage includes carrying the ‘palkhis’ (palanquins) of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj as part of the centuries-old ‘wari’ tradition.
Speaking about the infrastructure projects, Gadkari said the 234-km Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg, being developed at a cost of Rs 7,625 crore, is one of the region’s major highway initiatives. He said authorities overcame challenges at Dive Ghat by acquiring 17 hectares of forest land and widening the road into a four-lane stretch.
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He further stated that work on the 130-km Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg, being built at a cost of Rs 4,416 crore, is also close to completion. While sections between Patas and Baramati are already operational, construction on the Indapur-Tondale segment has reached 96 per cent completion.
Emphasising the environmental and agricultural benefits of the projects, the minister said 46 lakes had been created during construction, generating a water storage capacity of 3,345 TMC. “I always say that 90 per cent of my focus is on water conservation and agriculture,” he remarked. Gadkari also noted that 40,000 trees have been planted along the route, including species referenced in Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s ‘Vriksha-Valli’.
The minister also announced several additional infrastructure projects for the region, including a 2-km flyover at Jejuri costing Rs 250 crore and approval for the 48-km Tembhurni-Pandharpur stretch of NH-561A, estimated at Rs 950 crore.
He added that the government is adopting advanced Malaysian technology for long-span bridges and using Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPC-FRC) to improve durability and strength without relying on conventional iron reinforcement.
Gadkari further said work on the complete ring road around Pandharpur is being accelerated to divert heavy traffic away from the temple town and help reduce road accidents.
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