Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Sep 10: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said he was "ashamed" over the prolonged delay in completing the Mumbai-Goa highway and warned of action against errant contractors and officials.
Speaking at the inauguration of the six-lane elevated corridor in Porvorim, Gadkari said contractors had failed to complete the project and indicated that his ministry could set a new "record" for blacklisting and debarring contractors.
"The Mumbai-Goa Highway has been quite delayed, and the contractors have failed. What has happened is very unfortunate. My department has set over seven world records for various works, but now I wish my department will have the record for blacklisting and debarring the single largest number of contractors and suspensions of officials within a single year," he said.
Gadkari said he had "given up waiting for an auspicious time" to inaugurate the highway.
"I have decided I will not go for the inauguration of the Mumbai-Goa highway because I’m ashamed at the delays," he said, adding that he had been informed at a meeting that the highway was 93-94 per cent complete.
He said that in October he would deboard at Mumbai airport and travel to Goa by road to assess the status of the project's completion.
The 555-km Mumbai-Goa highway was planned to connect Mumbai with Goa, with 460 km of the route passing through Maharashtra up to Patradevi in Sindhudurg district.
Of the 460-km stretch in Maharashtra, 84 km is being constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), while the remaining 376 km has been taken up by the state Public Works Department.
The widening project was originally scheduled for completion in 2016 but has missed several deadlines. Gadkari has repeatedly expressed his frustration over the delays.
On the Porvorim elevated corridor, Gadkari said the project would reduce travel time and ease daily commuting for people in Goa. He also called for transforming the state's highway network into "green highways" through scientific landscaping and innovative infrastructure.
"There should be no compromise on the quality of road works," he said, calling for studies to identify tree species capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
Gadkari also underlined the link between infrastructure and economic growth, saying improved water, power, transport and communication infrastructure attracts investment and creates employment.
The Porvorim elevated corridor is expected to ease traffic congestion, particularly on roads leading towards North Goa's popular beach belt.