Pune, Nov 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Today virtually laid the foundation stone for widening five sections of Pandharpur Highway in Maharashtra, in a bid to boost connectivity to the pilgrim town of Pandharpur.

The National Highway 965 leads to great saint of Maharashtra Sant Dnyaneshawar Maharaj Palkhi Marg, while NH 965G is called Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg.

Also, the walkways for ‘palkhis’ (palanquins), carried by the Warkaris annually before Ashadi Ekadashi, will be constructed on either side of the national highways, providing hassle-free and safe passage to devotees.

The step taken by Prime Minister towards boosting connectivity to the pilgrim town of Pandharpur will help lakhs of devotees who undertake the journey on foot to famous Pandharpur town every year without footwear.

Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray were present on occasion.

The distance of 221 km of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg from Diveghat to Mohol and about 130 km of Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg from Patas to Tondale-Bondale will be widened to four lanes at estimated costs of about Rs 6,693 crore and Rs 4,415 crore, respectively.(UNI)