Centre Clears Rs 1,880 Crore NH-66 Expansion Project in South Goa

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,880.11 crore for the four-laning of the Cuncolim-Bendordem stretch of National Highway-66 in south Goa, including bypasses for the towns of Cuncolim and Balli, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Monday.

Calling it a “landmark moment” for Goa’s infrastructure development, Sawant said the project would ease congestion, improve connectivity and accelerate economic activity in the southern part of the state. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for approving the project.

According to details shared by the state government, the highway upgrade will feature a 5.78-km six-lane elevated corridor , a six-lane railway overbridge (ROB) , service roads, redesigned junctions and pedestrian safety infrastructure. The proposed bypasses at Cuncolim and Balli are expected to divert heavy traffic away from town centres and reduce travel time on the busy NH-66 corridor.

The project is also expected to influence Goa’s tourism economy by improving road access to beaches, hotels and commercial hubs in the southern belt, which is often marketed as a quieter alternative to north Goa. Tourism stakeholders believe smoother connectivity could encourage longer stays, ease airport-to-resort travel and support local businesses dependent on tourist traffic.

However, the highway expansion has also revived concerns among environmental groups and residents over the ecological impact of large-scale road widening in the coastal state. Activists have repeatedly warned that such projects could lead to the loss of green cover, increased pressure on fragile ecosystems and rising urbanisation along highway corridors. Questions have also been raised about construction-related disruptions, pollution and the long-term impact on Goa’s character as a low-density tourism destination.

The approval comes amid the Centre’s continued push for infrastructure-led growth in Goa under the BJP’s “ double-engine government ” narrative.