Maharashtra Chief Minister Orders Legal Action Against Highway Contractors

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reviewed the pending work on the Mumbai-Goa Highway ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. He instructed officials to file culpable homicide charges against contractors responsible for shoddy work that led to fatal accidents. Speaking at the Kashedi tunnel, Shinde emphasised that blacklisting such contractors is insufficient and criminal charges should be pursued.

Contractors to Face Criminal Charges

Shinde stated, "There have been some contractors who did shoddy work. Such poor quality work resulted in road accidents and people lost their lives. Blacklisting of such contractors is not sufficient. They should face criminal charges like culpable homicide. I have given instructions to officials to file such complaints against contractors." He plans to discuss this issue with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to prevent these contractors from bidding on major projects.

The Kashedi tunnel, which is expected to reduce travel time from 45 minutes to around 10 minutes, was also discussed. The twin tunnels of three lanes each are anticipated to be open before the Ganesh festival. One tunnel was commissioned last year but was used for two-way movement, causing traffic delays.

Advanced Technology for Repairs

After visiting the highway, Shinde mentioned that four types of advanced technology are being used to repair potholes and damaged stretches of the Mumbai-Goa highway. This is aimed at minimising inconvenience for people travelling to their villages in coastal districts for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Union Minister Gadkari had shown keen interest in the highway and provided loans to contractors. However, some contractors neglected their responsibilities, leading to the current precarious situation. Shinde remarked that action would be taken against those who constructed substandard roads.

Persistent Issues Despite Annual Reviews

Despite an annual review by a minister, there has been little improvement in road conditions. A Dapoli resident who visits his ancestral home during the festival said, "The Ganpati festival is in a couple of weeks, and the road conditions are substandard. Despite an annual review by a minister, there has been hardly any improvement. People continue to suffer."

Officials from NHAI, MSRDC, and PWD have conducted an in-depth study of the issues on this highway and devised effective solutions, according to Shinde. While the section from Ratnagiri to Goa is completed and operational, some stretches in Raigad still need proper construction.

Several people travel from cities to their ancestral homes in Konkan during the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The poor road conditions remain a significant concern for travellers and bus operators on the Mumbai-Goa route.

Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam recently criticised BJP leader and Maharashtra PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan over the poor state of the highway, calling him a "useless minister." This criticism came just a week before Shinde's visit.

The visit highlights ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure ahead of a major festival. The focus remains on ensuring safe travel for those heading to their villages for celebrations.