Nitin Gadkari ‘Ashamed’ Over Mumbai-Goa Highway Delay, Says He Won’t Attend Inauguration

Last Updated:September 10, 2026, 10:58 IST

A meeting regarding the issue was held with officials on Tuesday, Gadkari said, adding that he would personally inspect the highway in October.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari (File image)

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said he felt “ashamed” over the prolonged delay in widening the Mumbai-Goa Highway and announced that he would skip the project’s inauguration once it is finally completed.

Gadkari made the remarks after inaugurating a six-lane elevated road corridor at Porvorim near Panaji on Wednesday. He said he had already decided not to attend the inauguration because of the highway’s delayed completion.

“I had announced (earlier) that I would not come for the inauguration of the (widened) Mumbai-Goa highway because I felt ashamed that it had been delayed so much,” he said.

A meeting regarding the issue was held with officials on Tuesday, Gadkari said, adding that he would personally inspect the highway in October.

“I would land at the Mumbai airport in October, and travel by road to Goa to personally inspect the highway and assess whether the journey has been made convenient for travellers,” he said.

The Union Minister also said he wanted to “set a record” by blacklisting contractors and taking action against officials responsible for delays and poor execution of infrastructure projects.

“Now I want to set a record of blacklisting the maximum number of contractors and taking action against them, as well as suspending officials, within a year. I am not going to stop doing this now,” he said.

The 440-km Mumbai-Goa Highway widening project has been delayed repeatedly despite years of work and significant expenditure. Parts of the recently upgraded stretch also developed potholes and surface damage following the first monsoon rains.

Diversions, waterlogging, repairs and traffic jams continue to affect the highway, even after toll collection started at the Kharpada toll plaza in May.

Another safety concern emerged along the route after a monkey overpass near Kannala Animal Sanctuary, built in 2021, collapsed.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Why is Union Minister Nitin Gadkari ashamed of the Mumbai-Goa Highway project?

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed shame over the prolonged delay in widening the Mumbai-Goa Highway and stated he would not attend its inauguration due to the significant delays in its completion.

What actions will Nitin Gadkari take regarding the Mumbai-Goa Highway delays?

Nitin Gadkari plans to personally inspect the Mumbai-Goa Highway in October by traveling from Mumbai to Goa by road. He also intends to blacklist contractors and suspend officials responsible for project delays and poor execution, aiming to set a record for such actions within a year.

When is the Mumbai-Goa Highway expected to be fully completed?

The Mumbai-Goa Highway’s remaining work, excluding the Indapur and Mangaon bypasses, is planned for completion by August 2026. Public Works Minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale stated that 100% of the work would be completed by January 2027.

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Aanchal SinhaSub Editor

Aanchal is the Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than four years of experience in national and international news. My work involves covering breaking news, politics, current affairs and developments…Read More

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