June 21, 2025: The long-anticipated Mumbai–Goa highway, officially designated as National Highway 66, is now slated for completion by June 2025, according to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. Once operational, the upgraded stretch will reduce the current travel time from 10–12 hours to just six hours.
The project, which has been in the making for several years, encountered multiple setbacks owing to land acquisition issues, legal disputes, and inter-departmental coordination delays. However, Minister Gadkari recently confirmed that these obstacles have now been resolved and that construction work is progressing swiftly. “This highway will significantly enhance connectivity across the Konkan region, providing a major boost to both tourism and economic development,” he stated during a media briefing.
In addition to faster travel, the government is set to introduce a revised toll policy aimed at streamlining the highway experience. The plan involves phasing out physical toll booths in favour of a satellite-based toll collection system, which will track vehicles via GPS and automatically deduct charges based on distance travelled. This new policy is expected to be rolled out within the next 15 days.
The Mumbai–Goa highway, once complete, will stand as a key piece of regional infrastructure—offering immense relief to daily commuters, tourists, and businesses operating along the western coast. By enabling quicker, toll-efficient travel, the project promises to reshape mobility and open new opportunities for growth across Maharashtra’s coastal belt.
Source: Pune Pulse
