Raj Thackeray Criticises Mumbai-Goa Highway Delay; Pratap Sarnaik Responds
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday attributed the prolonged delay in completing the Mumbai-Goa National Highway to political interference, prompting Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik to respond in Thane that suggestions made by the MNS chief deserve consideration. Speaking to reporters at Mangaon during his Raigad visit, Thackeray questioned why contractors had abandoned the infrastructure project and why land acquisition issues remained unresolved despite years of official assurances.
Addressing reporters in Thane, Sarnaik acknowledged that the highway had remained delayed for several years. However, the transport minister stated that construction had gained momentum under the present Mahayuti government. Sarnaik added that the project had been pending since the erstwhile Congress-NCP government and claimed that the pace of execution had subsequently improved.
During his visit to Raigad, Thackeray revealed he had previously spoken to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari about the project. According to Thackeray, Gadkari cited contractors becoming fed up and leaving as a reason for the delay. Thackeray questioned why contractors had become frustrated and who they were fed up with, suggesting that the underlying reasons behind their exit required closer examination.
Thackeray also questioned the execution of the project, stating that the government should have completed land acquisition before awarding contracts. He further criticised the condition of newly built stretches of the road, questioning the need for bypasses if newly constructed portions were already in poor condition.
The Union government has previously cited delays in land acquisition and pre-construction activities, alongside cash-flow issues involving certain contractors, as reasons for the slow progress on National Highway 66. Federal authorities have maintained that pending issues are being resolved.
Beyond the highway, Thackeray raised concerns over development in the Konkan region and the proposed Third Mumbai project. He questioned whether young people from Raigad, Pen, and Panvel were being adequately prepared for emerging economic opportunities, while urging local residents to exercise caution before selling ancestral land.
