In a step towards boosting connectivity to the pilgrimage town of Pandharpur in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for four-laning of five sections of Sant Dnyaneshawar Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965) and three sections of Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965G) through video conferencing on Monday.

Modi also dedicated to the people of the country more than 223 km of upgraded road projects, constructed at an estimated cost of over Rs 1180 crore at different National Highways for facilitating movement to Pandharpur.

These projects include Mhaswad – Piliv – Pandharpur (NH 548E), Kurduwadi – Pandharpur (NH 965C), Pandharpur – Sangola (NH 965C), Tembhurni-Pandharpur section of NH 561A and Pandharpur – Mangalwedha – Umadi section of NH 561A.

Dedicated walkways for ‘Palkhi’ will be developed on either side of the above-mentioned National Highways to provide hassle-free and safe passage to devotees. Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray were also present at the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the foundation stone of Sreesanth Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg has been laid and these projects will lead to better connectivity with the region and paid his respect to the devotees, saints  and Bhagvan Vitthal for their blessings for the projects.

 He said that faith in Bhagavan Vitthal remained unwavered throughout the turmoils of history and “even today, this Yatra is one of the world’s oldest mass yatras and is seen as a people’s movement, Which teaches us that there may be different paths, different methods and ideas, but we have the same goal. In the end all sects are 'Bhagwat Panth,  It is a symbol of India's eternal knowledge that does not bind our faith, but liberates”, said the Prime Minister.

Reflecting on the spiritual richness of India, the Prime Minister said service to Pandharpur is the service to Shri Narayan Hari for him.

He said this is the land where the Lord resides even today for the sake of the devotees. This is the land about which Sant Namdev Ji Maharaj has said that Pandharpur is there since the world was not even created, he said.