Mumbai–Goa Highway Faces Final Hurdle As Bharat Gogawale Flags Safety Gaps To Nitin Gadkari
Mumbai–Goa Highway Faces Final Hurdle As Bharat Gogawale Flags Safety Gaps To Nitin Gadkari
Kolad underpass, Mahad and Mangaon service roads among four urgent demands as Centre targets April deadline
As the long-delayed Mumbai–Goa Highway (National Highway 66) nears a promised completion deadline, fresh concerns over safety and local connectivity have been raised by Maharashtra minister Bharat Gogawale. The state’s Employment Guarantee and Horticulture Minister has formally written to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, placing four key demands aimed at making the highway safer and more practical for residents of the Konkan region.
The intervention comes after Gadkari assured Parliament that the Mumbai–Goa highway, stalled for nearly 17 years, would be completed by the end of April. While the announcement renewed hopes among commuters and businesses, Gogawale warned that without addressing specific local issues, the project could remain accident-prone despite its completion.
Calling the highway the “lifeline of Konkan,” Gogawale said it plays a critical role in tourism, agriculture, trade and daily movement across Raigad and neighbouring districts. However, he pointed out that incomplete service roads, dangerous crossings and the absence of underpasses have led to frequent accidents, especially in Kolad, Mahad, Veer and Mangaon areas.
The first and most urgent demand is the construction of a dedicated underpass at Kolad in Raigad district. Kolad is a busy railway station and industrial zone, where pedestrians and local vehicles are forced to cross the highway amid fast-moving traffic. Gogawale has stressed that the lack of an underpass poses a constant threat to lives and that immediate construction is necessary to prevent further accidents.
The second demand relates to Mahad city, where the minister has sought a separate service road between Gandharpale and Sahilnagar. At present, local traffic mixes directly with highway vehicles, creating congestion and increasing the risk of collisions. A parallel service road, he argued, would ensure smoother intra-city movement while allowing high-speed traffic to pass safely.
Third, Gogawale has called for a service road in the Veer village and toll naka area, another congestion-prone stretch of the highway. With shops, local transport and toll-related traffic converging at one point, the absence of a service road has made the area particularly vulnerable to accidents. A dedicated road for local use, he said, would significantly ease traffic pressure and improve safety.
The fourth demand focuses on Mangaon taluka, where villages such as Pahel, Khandpale, Lakhpale and Vadpale lack a continuous service road. Residents are currently forced to enter the main highway even for short local travel, exposing them to high-speed traffic. Gogawale has sought an uninterrupted service road along this entire belt to protect villagers and ensure safer crossings.
“The Mumbai–Goa highway is the road to Konkan’s development. Saving lives and ensuring safe travel is our top priority,” Gogawale said, expressing confidence that with Gadkari’s cooperation, the pending works would be completed soon. He added that the demands were not meant to delay the project but to ensure that the finished highway is safe, efficient and citizen-friendly.
With the Centre reiterating its April deadline, Gogawale’s letter has renewed attention on whether the final phase of the project will address long-standing safety concerns. For residents of Konkan, who have endured years of delays and daily travel risks, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the highway truly delivers on its promise of faster and safer connectivity.
