Partial NH-66 closure extended, traffic diversions to continue till June 30; segment launching on last four spans gathers pace
RACE AGAINST RAINS: Construction activity continues on the Porvorim elevated corridor, where work on the final spans is expected to conclude within the next few weeks.
MAPUSA
Motorists travelling along the busy NH-66 corridor through Porvorim will have to brace for continued traffic diversions and congestion for at least another month, with the partial closure of a key stretch now expected to remain in force till June 30.
The extension comes as work on the landing section of the Porvorim elevated corridor near Neo Majestic Hotel requires additional time for completion, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) said.
The existing notification had stated that the right-hand side stretch of the highway – from the approach road near Neo Majestic Hotel to the vicinity of Gauri Petrol Pump – would remain closed from midnight of April 24 till May 20. However, authorities have now confirmed that the restriction will continue beyond the earlier deadline.
“We have to extend the closure of the stretch by at least another month as the work on the landing of the corridor near the Neo Majestic Hotel will take some time,” a PWD official said.
Despite the delay in reopening the affected stretch, construction agencies have maintained that the overall elevated corridor project remains on schedule and is likely to be opened to the public by Ganesh Chaturthi in September.
Senior General Manager of RRSM Infra Pvt Ltd, MCS Kurup, said the superstructure work has entered its final phase, with segment hoisting currently underway on the last four spans of the corridor.
“If there is no rain, we should be able to complete the hoisting work by May 30. In case of showers, the work may extend till June 15,” Kurup said.
He explained that rainfall affects the process of fixing and aligning the precast segments, as glue application becomes difficult during wet conditions.
The company also stated that construction of ramps on both sides of the elevated corridor is nearing completion.
In addition, hotmixing of the service roads has already been carried out and drainage works are almost complete ahead of the monsoon season.
“We have taken maximum measures to reduce inconvenience to motorists despite severe space constraints at the site. We are expecting much smoother monsoon travel this year compared to last year,” Kurup added.
The elevated corridor project, aimed at easing chronic traffic congestion along the Porvorim stretch of NH-66, has been under intense public scrutiny due to prolonged construction activity, diversions, dust pollution and frequent bottlenecks affecting both commuters and local residents.
Residents and daily commuters have repeatedly raised concerns over traffic snarls and accessibility issues in the area, especially during peak hours.
However, with the project now entering its final construction stages, authorities are hopeful that the long-awaited corridor will significantly improve traffic flow once operational later this year.
