The Centre has sanctioned the four-laning of the Cuncolim-Bendordem stretch of National Highway 66 in South Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Monday.
The stretch connects Cuncolim to Bendordem in the southern part of the state and has long been a pressure point for commuters, with traffic frequently choking through town centres. The sanction covers the four-laning of the corridor along with dedicated bypasses for Cuncolim and Balli towns, aimed at diverting through-traffic away from both urban centres.
Goa’s Cuncolim-Bendordem stretch: Cost and more
As per the PTI report, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,880.11 crore for this four-lane stretch on NH-66. The project includes a 5.78-kilometre six-lane elevated corridor and a six-lane railway overbridge. Beyond the main carriageway, the plan also provides for service roads, junction improvements, and pedestrian safety infrastructure along the length of the corridor.
Four-laning Cuncolim to Bendordem, with bypasses for Cuncolim and Balli
Sawant said the bypasses for Cuncolim and Balli will reduce congestion in town centres and cut travel time along the busy national highway corridor. More broadly, the chief minister said the project is expected to strengthen connectivity and support economic development in South Goa.
How does it benefit the commuters?
The bypasses for Cuncolim and Balli are central to the commuter benefit, by pulling heavy through-traffic out of town centres, they aim to cut congestion and reduce travel time on one of the region’s busiest national highway stretches.
Sawant, posting on X, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for the approval, describing it as a “landmark moment” for the state’s infrastructure. He added that the sanction reflects the Centre’s continued focus on Goa under what he called the “double-engine government” model, a term the BJP uses to refer to aligned governance at the state and central levels.