Centre Allocates ₹557 Crore for Four-Laning of 9.6 km Ponda-Bhoma Highway.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Monday that the Central Government has approved ₹557 crore for the four-laning of a 9.6 km stretch of National Highway 748 from Ponda to Bhoma, a critical segment in Goa that remains to be widened.

The highway project, which aims to address one of the last bottlenecks in the key roadway, has faced opposition from local residents in Bhoma, who are demanding a bypass road instead of land acquisition for the widening. Some have even approached the High Court over the matter.

"This section represents the missing four-lane link between the adjacent four-lane segments of Khandepar to Ponda and the Ribandar bypass. It serves as a critical connection between the major towns of Panaji and Ponda," Gadkari stated. He emphasized that the project will be executed in engineering, procurement, and construction mode.

Gadkari further highlighted the importance of this road link for interstate transportation, noting that it would facilitate traffic from Karnataka and improve connectivity to Dabolim Airport and Mormugao Port via NH-566 and NH-66. "The current stretch suffers from significant congestion and frequent accidents. The four-laning will ease traffic, decongest the area, and address four accident blackspots," he added.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed gratitude to Gadkari for sanctioning the funds, stating, "This project will significantly improve connectivity between Panaji and Ponda, and further extend to Belagavi. The double-engine government has consistently focused on improving infrastructure in Goa, creating employment and economic opportunities, and setting the state on the path to #ViksitGoa and #ViksitBharat."

ET