MAPUSA
The six-lane elevated corridor project along the busy NH-66 stretch at Porvorim has suffered a setback following the collapse of a precast concrete segment at Sangolda junction last month.
The accident, which occurred on May 18 during the launching of a segment onto a girder, has delayed construction activity at the site by at least two months, pushing the project completion date from April to June 2026.
Two workers were injured in the incident, which was attributed to an electro-mechanical malfunction in the launching girder system.
According to project officials, the failure was linked to a cracked winch or gear in the hoisting mechanism used to lift the precast segment.
Since the accident, work at the Sangolda junction side has remained stalled as the contractor awaited the arrival of replacement parts for the hoisting machine.
A senior Public Works Department (PWD) official confirmed that the faulty part has now been replaced, and testing of the equipment is currently underway under the supervision of a third-party auditor.
“A third-party auditor is overseeing the entire testing process of the hoisting mechanism. Once the system is certified safe and functional, construction activity will resume,” the official said.
The delay at Sangolda has impacted the construction schedule of the 5.15-kilometre-long elevated corridor, which is part of the highway expansion aimed at easing chronic traffic congestion between Porvorim and Mapusa.
The structure will consist of 1,431 precast segments supported by 88 piers and 87 spans. Each span comprises approximately 17 segments.
“While the revised completion date is now June 2026, the contractor is still within the overall permissible deadline, which is October 2026,” the official added.
The contractor had earlier been granted a six-month extension due to unexpected challenges during the piling stage. PWD officials expressed confidence that once resumed, work would proceed smoothly.
“The accident was unfortunate, but necessary precautions are now in place to ensure that such an incident does not recur,” the official stated.
The Porvorim elevated corridor is one of the key infrastructure upgrades along the NH-66 and is expected to significantly decongest one of North Goa’s busiest road stretches once operational.
