Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that he will not attend the inauguration of the long-delayed Mumbai-Goa highway project, expressing disappointment over the pace of construction. Speaking after inaugurating a six-lane elevated road corridor at Porvorim near Panaji, Gadkari said he felt “ashamed” that the project had taken so long. He also announced plans to inspect the entire highway in October.

Gadkari said he would arrive at Mumbai airport in October and travel by road to Goa to personally assess the progress of the highway. The inspection, he said, would help him determine whether the road has become more convenient for travellers. The highway passes through Maharashtra’s coastal Konkan region and is expected to provide improved connectivity for commuters and people travelling to the region.

The minister also issued a warning to contractors and officials over delays and poor-quality infrastructure work. Gadkari said strict action against those responsible would continue, including blacklisting contractors and suspending officials. He said he wanted to set a record for taking action against the maximum number of contractors and officials within a year, signalling a tougher approach towards delays in major infrastructure projects.

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The Mumbai-Goa highway widening project has faced delays for several years. Gadkari had earlier cited legal disputes and conflicts related to land acquisition among the factors affecting construction. Waterlogging in low-lying sections during the monsoon has also posed challenges, affecting both construction activity and road conditions. The minister, however, had indicated that these issues were limited to certain stretches.

Forest clearances have also affected construction on some sections of the highway. In March this year, Gadkari said some portions remained incomplete because they passed through forest areas and that the ministry was coordinating with concerned authorities to resolve the issues. The highway has long been a major connectivity project for Maharashtra’s Konkan region and has faced repeated deadlines over the years.

In April 2015, Gadkari had indicated that the delayed highway would likely be completed by June that year. However, construction continued to face obstacles, extending the timeline considerably. His latest decision to personally inspect the route and stay away from the inauguration underlines his dissatisfaction with the project's delays, while the proposed action against contractors and officials reflects the government’s focus on accountability in infrastructure work.

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