After Porvorim, fresh traffic snarls loom on NH-66

A long queue of vehicles inches through the narrow service road at Peddem on Tuesday, causing severe inconvenience and delays for motorists amid ongoing VUP construction work on NH-66.

MAPUSA
Traffic disruptions on NH-66 are set to worsen, with motorists already grappling with chaos caused by the elevated corridor work at Porvorim now facing fresh trouble spots at Peddem and Dhargal, where Vehicular Underpass (VUP) works are underway.
With contractors commencing work at Peddem and traffic continuing to be diverted at Dhargal, commuters fear that daily travel along this crucial highway corridor could soon become a test of patience.
Vehicular movement at both locations has been diverted through narrow service roads, resulting in frequent bottlenecks, long queues and slow-moving traffic, particularly during peak hours.
“Porvorim itself is a nightmare every morning. Now with Peddem and Dhargal added to the list, travelling on NH-66 has become exhausting,” said Milind Naik, a daily commuter from Pernem.
Heavy vehicle operators echoed similar concerns, stating that the service roads are ill-equipped to handle diverted highway traffic.
The situation at Peddem, where work began around a week ago, has already raised safety concerns.

A young biker sustained serious injuries after ramming into a mound of mud lying in the middle of NH-66 at Peddem late Monday night. Photo: Shekar Naik

Late Monday night, a youth riding a two-wheeler reportedly wriggled past a barricade but failed to notice mud piled up on the highway. His bike slammed into the mound, causing him to fall and suffer serious injuries. He was later shifted to the Goa Medical College for treatment.
The VUP project at Peddem has been tendered at an estimated cost of Rs 33 crore and is scheduled to be completed within 540 days.
While the underpass is expected to ease traffic conflicts and improve connectivity for residents on either side of the highway once completed, motorists say the disruption has begun from day one.
“Long traffic jams and unpredictable diversions are taking a physical and mental toll on commuters,” said another local resident, pointing out the lack of clear signage and traffic marshals during rush hours.

Traffic is diverted through service roads at Dhargal as vehicular underpass work is underway on NH-66, causing congestion and inconvenience to commuters. Photos: Agnelo Pereira

At Dhargal’s Don Khambe junction, construction of a four-lane VUP –sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways at a cost of Rs 46 crore – has been underway for several months. Traffic diversion through service roads here too has led to severe congestion, especially during morning and evening peak hours.
An official associated with the project said that temporary inconvenience was unavoidable but assured that efforts were being made to manage traffic.
“These projects are aimed at long-term safety and congestion relief. We are coordinating with traffic police to improve diversion management and signage,” the official said.
With works at Porvorim, Peddem and Dhargal running simultaneously, commuters fear a tough year ahead.
Given that NH-66 serves as a vital link to Mopa airport and North Goa, motorists are urging authorities to strengthen traffic management, improve safety measures at construction zones and provide timely updates to minimise chaos on one of the State’s busiest highways.