Gadkari tells state to identify land for road parallel to NH66

Panaji: The ongoing highway expansion works in Goa are being carried out based on a state study which estimated the requirement up to 2030. Since vehicle density has continued to cause congestion along many stretches in the state, the Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, on his recent visit to Goa, suggested a parallel road to NH66 from Patradevi to Canacona.
Sources said that the minister, during his visit this week, told state officials during a review meeting that land availability should be assessed for a highway parallel to the existing NH66.
Gadkari, said sources, felt that Goa needs an alternative highway to keep traffic circulating in case of congestion on the existing highway.
He noted that there is no such alternative route available to the highway at present. “He has said that the road can be constructed wherever land is available and then later the road stretches can gradually be connected. The ministry is presently planning to connect Hyderabad to Kanyakumari and the Goa stretch will be one of the connecting links,” said a source.
“The minister has suggested we identify land available for this alternative road, leaving out forest, habitations, and tourist areas,” said a source.
The present highway expansion was to involve four-laning of roads with six-laning carried out wherever land is available. After 2030, another assessment of vehicle density would be carried out, which would possibly point to six- and even eight-laning of all roads. But in Goa, it could be difficult to carry out further highway expansion. Officials said that the alternative road will prevent the need for further expansion of the existing highway at the cost of existing structures.
“However, the feasibility of a parallel highway has to be seen on the ground due to land contour. Goa also has a land shortage. The minister has suggested that we involve MLAs in identifying routes for the alternative route. If the new two/four-lane highway is not feasible, an elevated road may be required in the future. But an elevated road is ten times more expensive,” said the source.
Officials said that Gadkari stated that Goa has no ring roads available to keep traffic circulating. He noted that on the other hand, locals are also opposed to developing waterways as a means of transport.
“He felt that the issue can be resolved with the parallel highway, with it connecting from place to place to the existing highway to create diversion routes,” said the source.
As per preliminary plans, the alternative route is expected to be 120km long.