Mumbai-Goa Highway Set For Phased Completion By 2025, Government Assures

The Union government has informed the Lok Sabha that the Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH-66) will be completed by September 2025. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, gave this update on Thursday, according to a Hindustan Times report.

He explained that the project had been delayed due to land acquisition problems, other pre-construction activities, and financial issues faced by some contractors. However, he added that most of these issues have now been resolved with the help of the Maharashtra state government, and the remaining work is currently underway.

Photo Credit: PTI

Gadkari shared details of specific flyovers that faced delays:

1. The Lanja and Pali flyovers were held up because of land acquisition issues.
2. The Chiplun flyover was delayed after one of its spans collapsed.

According to the minister, land-related problems for Lanja and Pali flyovers have now been settled. The Chiplun flyover's design was revised following the accident. Construction on all three flyovers is ongoing and will be completed in phases by September 2025.

He also spoke about another stretch - the Shastripul-Bahwandi-Sangameshwar-Nivli road, part of the Aravali to Talekante section. This work was also delayed due to similar land and contractor-related issues. So far, 30.68 km out of 39.24 km of this section has been completed. The remaining part will also be finished in phases by September 2025.

Gadkari was replying to a question from Narayan Tatu Rane, a BJP MP and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who asked about the slow pace of work.

In response to another question by Tanuj Punia, a Congress MP from Uttar Pradesh, Gadkari revealed that 683 national highway projects that began after April 1, 2014, are still incomplete. These projects have missed their original deadlines.

He said the main reasons for these delays are:

1. Land acquisition issues
2. Delays in getting permissions and clearances
3. Shifting of utilities like water and power lines
4. Encroachments
5. Law and order problems
6. Financial difficulties faced by contractors
7. Poor contractor performance
8. Natural disasters like floods, landslides, cyclones, and the COVID-19 pandemic

The minister assured the House that efforts are being made to resolve these problems and finish the projects as soon as possible.