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Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently announced the sanction of ?1,060.2 crore for the four-laning of a 7-kilometre stretch of National Highway 748 from Bhoma to Old Goa. The project aims to ease severe congestion and address the limited Right of Way in the key areas of Bhoma, Corlim, and Ella. The highway, earlier known as NH 4A, runs 153 kilometres from NH 48 near Belagavi in Karnataka to NH 66 near Panaji, Goa, and serves as a crucial route for both passenger and freight traffic from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka to Goa. The planned upgrade includes two elevated corridors totalling 4.2 km and 7-metre-wide service roads on both sides, making the entire Panaji–Khandepar stretch a four-lane corridor with paved shoulders. While the project has received central support, local residents in Bhoma have raised objections to land acquisition, demanding a bypass instead of widening the existing road. Some have approached the high court in protest. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant thanked Gadkari for the project sanction, calling it a significant step toward improved connectivity between Panaji and Belagavi. “This will greatly ease travel, enhance logistics, and boost the economy by strengthening Goa’s link with southern states,” he said. Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade added that the project would enhance road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and improve access to key locations such as Dabolim Airport and Mormugao Port via NH 566 and NH 66. This latest approval follows an earlier ?557 crore sanction by Gadkari in October 2024 for the four-laning of the 9.6 km Ponda–Bhoma stretch on the same highway. Once completed, the new section will bridge the gap between existing four-lane segments, including Khandepar to Ponda and the Ribandar bypass, forming a continuous and efficient transport corridor. |
