Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has voiced strong displeasure over the prolonged delays plaguing the construction of the Mumbai-Goa National Highway while speaking at an event in Porvorim, Goa. Gadkari stated that it is extremely unfortunate for the project to take 16 to 17 years to reach completion, adding that he feels a deep sense of embarrassment over the timeline. Consequently, he made it clear that he will refuse to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the highway.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the route connecting Mumbai through Konkan to Goa for the state of Maharashtra, Gadkari pointed out that numerous contractors failed miserably in executing the work on time. During the 6-lane elevated corridor inauguration event, he warned of imminent punitive measures against negligent contractors and officials. He remarked that while his department has already achieved seven world records, he is now inclined to set a new record for blacklisting and debarring the highest number of contractors and suspending the maximum number of officials within a single year. Asserting zero tolerance for laxity, he reiterated his decision to stay away from the opening ceremony due to the sheer shame caused by the multi-year delay.
Highway Inspection and Current Status
According to Gadkari, roughly 90 to 95 percent of the Mumbai-Goa highway construction has now been finished. He mentioned that a review meeting regarding the project took place recently, and he personally plans to travel by road from Mumbai to Goa in October. During this journey, he will inspect the entire stretch of the highway to evaluate the quality and execution of the completed work firsthand.
Clarification on Political Future
On the same platform, Gadkari addressed speculations surrounding his political career, noting that although he frequently receives offers to contest elections from various states, he will strictly contest from his core field of work and primary workplace. He affirmed that as long as his party continues to repose faith in him, he will not abandon his current constituency, indicating that he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Nagpur. Previously, Nitin Gadkari had blamed faulty Detailed Project Reports for contributing to highway fatalities and warned of strict action against those responsible.
