If additional funds are raised, completion of Mumbai- Goa widening project may be completed till March 2022: NHAI

A recent declaration from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to the Bombay High Court, stating that the project of road widening in the Mumbai-Goa Highway will be completed by March 2022, which is well before the deadline of December 2022. This will only be possible if the State Bank of India will lend an additional Rs 200 crore well before the time.  

 

The affidavit submitted by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) states that before the monsoon the highway was unobstructed but as heavy rainfall and traffic began potholes, patches and water stagnation on some parts of the highway had developed, which immediately were repaired. 

 

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)Project’s Director Prashant Fegade had filed the affidavit after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by advocate Owais Pechkar who is a resident of Chiplun and the highway is used by him regularly. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was submitted before Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni stating that it was adhering to the Bombay High Court’s (HC) directions in July to provide an update about the status of the project. 

 

The affidavit while responding to Owais Pechkar’s petition for the status on completion of the road widening project, also responded to the request made by him to fix and repair the potholes on the National Highway- 66, which is susceptible to accidents. The petition filed by Pechkar also stated that in the past 10 years, a total of 2,442 people have lost their lives, because of the potholes and ongoing road widening work.

 

 

While responding to the petition the NHAI stated that the reason for slow progress in the project is the financial limitations, it was decided that there will be One-Time Fund Infusion (OTFIS) and were able to manage a total amount of Rs 540 crore for the completion of the project. But the amount from lenders was pending. 

 

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