The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has invited tenders worth a combined Rs 15.55 crore to improve road safety along the vulnerable Kashedi–Parshuram Ghat section of the Mumbai–Goa National Highway. The proposed measures include repairs at hazardous stretches and the construction of service roads to reduce risks for motorists.
According to an official, the first tender, valued at Rs 8.02 crore, covers special repairs at Parshuram Ghat between kilometre markers 202 and 205, as well as the stretch from 149.51 km to 150 km. The second tender, worth Rs 7.52 crore, focuses on road safety improvements across 43.8 km, from 161.60 km to 205.40 km, covering the Kashedi–Parshuram Ghat corridor.
The initiative follows repeated landslides, road damage and serious accidents, particularly during the monsoon. In July 2026, a major landslide at Kashedi Ghat halted traffic for nearly 12 hours after debris and fallen trees blocked a 250–300-metre section. Boulder falls and smaller landslides were also reported at Parshuram Ghat.
MoRTH has previously identified vulnerable locations, including stretches between 200.31 km and 201.48 km, where slope protection measures were proposed. An official highlighted the existing warnings for motorists, stating, “For motorists, there are multiple signages at frequent intervals warning them of loose rock fall and landslide-prone zones,”
The Ratnagiri district disaster management plan lists Parshuram Ghat among approximately 22 landslide-prone locations along national highways in the district. It records seven major landslides in Ratnagiri that caused 47 deaths and damaged 16 houses. A 2021 landslide at Pedhe in Chiplun taluka claimed three lives.
The stretch has experienced further disruptions and accidents. In 2022, landslides blocked the highway, prompting temporary closures and restrictions on heavy vehicles and night-time traffic. A separate incident during widening work buried two earth-moving machines and killed an operator.
In November 2024, a collision involving a state transport bus, truck and car injured several people. More recently, in April 2026, a car overturned at Parshuram Ghat, killing one passenger and seriously injuring three others.
The latest tenders seek to strengthen protection along this accident-prone highway corridor.
Source: Hindustan Times
