Goa Highway Expansion Projects Delayed by 16 Months Due to Gas Pipeline Issues
Highway expansion projects in Goa, funded by the Union highways ministry, are experiencing a 16-month delay due to gas pipeline shifting. The chief engineer of the Union ministry noted this issue during a review of nine projects.
Over Rs 700 crore has been sanctioned for two key projects affected by the delays. The projects include a 6.6 km stretch for four-laning from the Zuari bridge to Margao bypass, with Rs 398 crore sanctioned in July 2024, and a 9.9 km stretch from Ponda to Bhoma, for which Rs 557 crore was sanctioned in October 2024.
The Indian Oil Adani Gas Ltd and Goa Natural Gas pipelines need to be shifted for these expansions. The Union ministry has instructed state PWD officials to coordinate the pipeline relocation and map existing utilities before proceeding with the highway work.
