The final precast segment is likely to be lifted into place on Tuesday or Wednesday, marking a key milestone in one of Goa’s largest road infrastructure projects.
Once opened, the corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Mapusa and Panaji to around 10 minutes, compared to the current average of 40 minutes during peak hours. “Once motorists join NH-66 at Guirim from the Mapusa side, it will take hardly 10 minutes to reach Panaji. Traffic will move straight along the highway without diversions,” said Gajanan Desai, Executive Engineer, PWD (National Highways).
Following completion of the superstructure, the project will undergo load testing and a detailed safety audit, a process expected to take between 15 days and one month.
The project is being executed by RRSM Infra Pvt Ltd, which expects to complete the remaining work well before the October 2026 deadline.
“Once the last segment is launched, only minor finishing work will remain. We expect to complete the crash barriers, road surfacing, electrical works and other finishing activities within the next one to two months. We are aiming to hand over the project to the government by mid-August,” said M C S Kurup, Senior General Manager of RRSM Infra Pvt Ltd.
Kurup said crash barrier installation and bituminous surfacing will be carried out simultaneously, although the surfacing work requires four to five consecutive dry days. Around 70 per cent of the electricity pole installation has already been completed.
The corridor consists of 88 piers, 87 spans and 1,431 precast concrete segments, making it one of the largest segmental bridge structures in Goa. Desai said the project remains within the approved cost, though the contractor may seek compensation for delays and additional expenses caused by unforeseen circumstances.
