State Highways in Goa Proposed for National Highway Upgrade

Panaji: With the ongoing expansion of national highways in Goa nearing completion, state officials have shifted their focus to addressing critical bottlenecks on key state highways. Plans are underway to propose the designation of certain state highway stretches as national highways, which would enable them to receive funding from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for further development.

Proposed Upgrades

Segments of state highways identified for potential upgrade include:

• Karaswada to Sanquelim and Usgao in North Goa
• Amigos to Baithakhol in Ponda, South Goa

These routes are significant for regional connectivity and experience substantial traffic volumes, including heavy vehicles like mining trucks and interstate transport vehicles.

Eligibility Criteria

State highways can be upgraded to national highways if they meet specific criteria, including:

• Handling daily traffic volumes of at least 10,000 passenger car units (PCUs). Heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses are counted as three PCUs each.
• Connecting significant districts or towns, or linking one state to another.
• Serving industrial corridors or tourist attractions.

Officials noted that the presence of mining trucks on Usgao and interstate traffic on the Sanquelim road indicates these routes meet the required traffic thresholds.

Challenges and Previous Proposals

A previous proposal to upgrade state highways to national highways was partially approved by MoRTH but later rescinded due to policy changes. Authorities plan to resubmit these proposals, highlighting their importance for regional development and connectivity.

Key Bottlenecks and Development Plans

• Sanquelim: Dattawadi remains a major traffic bottleneck for travelers heading to Belagavi, Karnataka.
• Ponda: Ongoing four-laning work is set to conclude by 2025, which will facilitate further expansion of high-traffic routes like the Amigos state highway.

Next Steps

Officials have initiated preliminary studies to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed upgrades. Comprehensive studies will be conducted before submitting the final proposal to MoRTH for approval. If approved, these upgrades will improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and support economic growth in the region.