Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, had last week announced that Goa to Mumbai will become a six-hour journey once the work on four-lane road gets completed in 2018. But a reality check with bus operators revealed that it is impossible to do so.
PANAJI
The crux of the matter is Goa to Mumbai is close to 600 kilometers distance and it would require an average speed of 100 km per hour to do it in 6 hours, which is not possible in Indian conditions.
Javed Khan, owner, Diana Travels in Panaji, said, “Belgaum to Mumbai is close to 500 kms and the highway is in good condition, but still it takes seven hours to do this journey in bus. Maximum average speed that a bus can do on Indian highways is 70-80 km per hour.”
A bus driver, who regularly drives from Goa to Mumbai, said, “The peak speed that Volvo bus can hit is 120 km per hour. But, no matter how well you drive, other buses don’t go beyond 80 km per hour speed.”
The chances are very low that Goa to Mumbai will become a six-hour journey because it is near impossible for a bus to have an average speed of 100 km per hour.
Vincent Olivera, owner, Vailankanni Tours and Travels, said, “To my mind, it is very difficult for heavy vehicles to cover a distance of 600 kms in 6 hours. With a lighter vehicle, it may just be possible. But, even then, one must realise that it takes 2 hours to reach from Panvel to Mumbai, which is a distance of just 50 kms, due to traffic.”
If two hours are spent between just Panvel and Mumbai, then it is impossible that Goa to Mumbai will be done in six hours overall. Bus operators also suggested that a tunnel system on the upcoming Goa-Mumbai road will help in vehicles moving faster than building road around ghats.
Another driver said, “The risk of accident is very high at 100 km per hour speed. This is the reason that even cars like Innova don’t do 100 km per hour on an average because what will you do if a biker or cattle comes in front at that speed?”
Poor safety on Indian roads will definitely be an impediment even for the upcoming four-lane Goa-Mumbai road.
GOA-MUMBAI: PLAIN FACTS
n Distance between Goa and Mumbai close to 600 km
n Six-hour travel requires average speed of 100 kmph
n Maximum speed at which buses travel is around 70-80 kmph
n Risk of accident very high at 100 kmph
n Panvel-Mumbai distance is 50 km, takes around 2 hrs due to traffic
n Safety on roads another impediment
AT PRESENT, IT’S A 12-15 HR SAGA
n Buses from Goa used to take Sawantwadi-Kashedi Ghat-Chiplun route -- around 12-13 hrs
n Road condition bad; now forced to take Kolhapur route -- around 14-15 hours
n Passengers’ safety a major concern near Kudal-Panvel
