# Mumbai-Goa highway costs spiral as work drags on

> A 355-km widening project has ballooned 48% in cost to Rs 16,909 crore, with over Rs 11,577 crore already spent yet stretches still unfinished.
- Title: Mumbai-Goa highway costs spiral as work drags on | Shortify
- Summary: A 355-km widening project has ballooned 48% in cost to Rs 16,909 crore, with over Rs 11,577 crore already spent yet stretches still unfinished. The…
- Keywords: mumbai-goa highway, nh-66, four-laning project, maharashtra, cost overrun, infrastructure delay, konkan region, nhai, morth, land acquisition, contractor difficulties, bombay high court
- Source: The Economic Times — https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/roadways/mumbai-goa-highway-cost-jumps-48-to-rs-16909-crore-one-package-up-126-rs-11577-crore-spent-yet-parts-remain-unfinished-rti-reveals-why-konkan-commuters-are-still-waiting/articleshow/134353611.cms
- Author: ET Online
- Published: 2026-09-19T12:23:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: mumbai-goa highway, nh-66, four-laning project, maharashtra, cost overrun, infrastructure delay, konkan region, nhai, morth, land acquisition, contractor difficulties, bombay high court
## Highway cost jumps 48 percent
The Mumbai-Goa highway widening project's sanctioned cost has risen to Rs 16,909 crore, up from the original Rs 11,409 crore. That's an increase of Rs 5,500 crore for four-laning 355 km of NH-66 in Maharashtra.
## Already spent more than budgeted
Rs 11,577 crore has been spent on the 10 packages, exceeding the original sanctioned amount even though several stretches remain incomplete. This reveals a massive gap between spending and actual progress.
## One package cost nearly tripled
The Parshuram Ghat-Arawali package in the Chiplun-Ratnagiri belt saw its cost jump from Rs 983 crore to Rs 2,226 crore, a 126% increase. This single stretch accounts for the sharpest cost escalation.
## Project delayed 15 years running
The four-laning project has faced delays from land acquisition issues, statutory clearances, and contractor financial difficulties. Different stretches have been handled by different agencies since 2011.
## Konkan commuters suffer most
A seven-hour journey between Mumbai and Konkan villages becomes much longer during peak travel times like Ganeshotsav. Unfinished sections, narrow carriageways, and construction zones create severe traffic bottlenecks.
## Court questions prolonged delays
In January 2024, the Bombay High Court observed that the prolonged delay in NH-66 widening was causing hardship to people and adding to the state exchequer burden through rising construction costs.

> prolonged delay in NH-66 widening and repair works was causing hardship to people and adding to the burden on the state exchequer
## Who is accountable for this mess
RTI activist Jeetendra Ghadge questions how responsibility is divided between agencies executing different sections. He asks why a project of this scale remains incomplete after 15 years despite thousands of crores spent.

> When a project of this scale has remained incomplete for nearly 15 years despite thousands of crores being sanctioned and spent, the government must answer a basic question: who is ultimately accountable for the delay?
## Contrast with Samruddhi Mahamarg
Maharashtra's 701-km Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway opened in phases, with 520 km operational by December 2022. The comparison highlights the Mumbai-Goa project's slower progress despite being a widening rather than new construction.
## Key takeaway

The Mumbai-Goa highway four-laning project has exceeded its original budget by Rs 5,500 crore while remaining incomplete after 15 years, leaving Konkan commuters stuck in traffic.