A senior minister in Maharashtra state says that state government funds will be used to complete works on the Panvel to Mahad stretch of the Mumbai-Goa Highway that are not funded by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
The Times of India reported that Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, issued an assurance on May 19 that funds will be provided by the state government to complete the incomplete works, which include bridges, road curves, service roads and gutter lines.
The Mumbai-Goa Highway - National Highway 66 (NH-66) - is being widened to four lanes with the project expected to cut travel times between Mumbai and Goa from 12 to six hours. The Highway links Panvel near Mumbai to Polem in South Goa.
The project was originally scheduled for completion in 2014 but has faced delays due to factors including difficulties with land acquisition and contractors, and is now scheduled for completion in June this year.
