Govt working on project plan for Mollem highway expansion

Panaji: The PWD’s preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) is currently in progress for the four-laning of two highway stretches from Khandepar to Mollem and from Mollem to the Goa-Karnataka border, covering 20km and 12.8km, respectively, officials said. These are one of the last highway stretches in the state to undergo expansion work, since the four-laning began in the state from late 2016.

The highway stretch from Mollem to the Goa-Karnataka border was one of the contentious linear projects in Goa, as it passes through the ecologically sensitive zone of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary.

This 33-km-long project will be funded by the Union ministry of road transport and highways.

Three linear infrastructure projects planned through the protected areas of Mollem faced widespread opposition in Goa. In 2021, the central empowered committee (CEC), in its report to Supreme Court, recommended that environmental approvals be sought for expansion of NH 748 through Mollem’s forest. Though it allowed the project to go ahead, it suggested modifications.

After the CEC pointed out that environment clearance is a must for the project, Goa govt submitted its proposal before the Union environment ministry’s regional empowered committee (REC), Bengaluru.

Around 7,000 trees are expected to be felled for the project, requiring the state to put in place a plan for compensatory afforestation as well as soil and moisture conservation plans for the project to be approved.

It has been close to 10 years since Goa’s highway expansion work began, but the work especially in South Goa have been delayed due to objections from locals in different parts of the region.

The entire stretch from Corlim to the Karnataka border is waiting to be four/six-laned.

The four-laning of a 9km stretch from Ponda to Bhoma has recently begun at a cost of Rs 557 crore. Another work is in progress from Amigos to Bythakol covering 5.5km at Rs 40 crore. Both works are also being funded by the Union ministry of highways. Meanwhile, the Corlim to Bhoma stretch project is facing protests from locals.