- Goa's 5.15-km NH-66 elevated corridor closed after accidents.
- Project inaugurated September 9, fatal accident reported September 12.
- Rs 641 crore infrastructure project now faces an uncertain future.
Goa Flyover: 5.15-km elevated corridor to ease traffic on National Highway-66, cut travel delays and strengthen connectivity across Goa, landed in trouble days after being inaugurated. The 641-crore infrastructure project, which aimed at easing one of Goa’s most congested urban traffic stretches and providing seamless movement of vehicles through Porvorim, has been at the centre of criticism after several accidents. The criticism led the authorities to close the elevated road.
The first accident was reported on September 12, barely 24 hours after it opened to the public. HT reported that two people were killed on September 12 when a speeding car rammed into a scooter, pushing it to collide with a truck.
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Goa government's move to block the motorway's main exit leading to the state capital, Panaji, affected residents and tourists alike. The Porvorim elevated corridor was supposed to ease the chokepoint bypasses with help of Atal Setu, but now the entire project hangs in the air. A PWD official said the officials have been working on the issues and they would be resolved soon.
The Elevated Corridor Inaugurated On September 9
Earlier, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the six-lane, 5.15-km elevated corridor at Porvorim on NH-66 in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on September 9.
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural event, Gadkari said the project inaugurated today is an outstanding example of world-class engineering and modern technology. It will also ensure seamless road connectivity to the Manohar International Airport and Maharashtra, he said, urging the state government to ensure that top-quality amenities are provided along the highways for tourists.
The minister also urged the State administration to prioritise comprehensive green landscaping along the highway and turn the entire stretch into a true Green Highway.
Speaking about the inseparable bond between Goa and Maharashtra, he said that the highway connecting Mumbai through the Konkan belt all the way to Goa was of immense emotional and economic significance.