In a significant setback to Goa’s infrastructure development plans, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has put the proposed Rs 150 billion ring road project on hold. The ministry has directed the state to first complete the remaining 40 km of its national highway expansion, which began in 2016, before initiating any new works.

The ring road, initially approved in December 2022, was intended to ease internal traffic congestion by enabling the smooth movement of heavy interstate vehicles through a dedicated outer corridor. However, the ministry has clarified that construction of the ring road cannot proceed until all pending highway widening works are completed.

The incomplete stretches of the highway expansion are located in key areas such as Cuncolim, Canacona, Bhoma, and Ponda. These works, aimed at addressing traffic requirements until 2030, have no clear completion timeline, raising concerns among officials about potential delays in future infrastructure planning. A review of traffic density is scheduled for 2030 to reassess road needs.

The ministry has warned that advancing the ring road without finishing the existing works would breach planning regulations. The highway expansion project has been plagued by various challenges, including land acquisition delays, environmental concerns, structural objections, and demands for elevated corridors. Changes in project scope have further contributed to the delays.

During the tenure of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, authorities had opted to begin work on stretches where land was already available, with the remaining sections to be developed later. This phased approach, however, led to complications, as contractors took advantage of the situation to claim cost escalations due to delays.

With both the ring road and highway expansion in limbo, Goa’s broader infrastructure goals remain stalled until the foundational road works are brought to completion.

News source: Daiji World