New Delhi, 1 April 2026
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Shri Sadanand Shet Tanavade, during Zero Hour, raised serious concerns regarding the continued delays in the widening and upgradation of National Highway 66, the crucial road corridor connecting Mumbai and Goa.
Highlighting the importance of the highway, Shri Tanavade stated that NH 66 serves as the primary lifeline for the Konkan region and Goa, playing a vital role in tourism, trade, transportation of goods, and overall regional development.
Shri Tanavade pointed out that the four-laning project, which was sanctioned more than a decade ago, was aimed at improving connectivity, enhancing road safety, and reducing travel time for lakhs of commuters and tourists travelling between Mumbai and Goa.
Shri Tanavade emphasized that the completion of the highway would significantly benefit the transportation of goods, boosting industries, agriculture, fisheries, and small businesses across the region.
However, he expressed concern that the project continues to face persistent delays due to land acquisition issues, environmental clearances, design changes, contractor-related problems, and traffic management challenges. As a result, several stretches remain incomplete, with bottlenecks, unfinished bridges, and poor road conditions.
Shri Tanavade further noted that the situation worsens during the monsoon season, as heavy rains aggravate the already incomplete stretches, leading to severe traffic congestion and increasing the risk of accidents, thereby causing hardship to commuters.
In view of the strategic and economic importance of the highway, and with the monsoon approaching, Shri Tanavade appealed to the Government to take immediate steps to expedite the remaining work on NH 66, ensure better coordination among all stakeholders, and provide a clear timeline for its completion.
