Panaji: The public works department (PWD) has ordered the closure of a section of the National Highway 66 (NH 66) in Porvorim from Hotel Neo Majestic to Gauri petrol pump for the safety of commuters during the ongoing work on the project of six-lane elevated corridor. The closure will begin from Thursday midnight and will end on May 20.PWD executive engineer Gajanan Dessai has said in the order that right-hand side of the existing NH 66 will be shut for all types of vehicular traffic “to facilitate hindrance free and speedy completion of the project, taking into consideration, the safety of commuters.”Traffic on this stretch will use a narrow service road instead, he said.Traffic proceeding from Panaji towards Mapusa will be diverted from left-hand side service road near Neo Majestic Hotel. Traffic will be closed for the connecting road from Pundalik Nagar near P82 near Delfino’s junction.“Traffic moving towards Mapusa from Betim will be allowed on existing right-hand side service road of NH 66 from P85, near Gauri petrol pump. Suitable and safe access for the local residents and establishments on the closed stretch of NH 66 will be provided at designated locations,” said the PWD order.Sign boards indicating diversions, no parking, etc, will be displayed at strategic locations, in addition to all required road safety measures, as per laid down guidelines of Indian Road Congress and Union highways ministry by the contracting agency, Dessai’s order states.The 5.1km elevated corridor with approach roads is being constructed at a cost of Rs 475 crore, funded by the Union highways ministry. The approach road for the corridor starts on the southern side from Hotel Neo Majestic.The project is being constructed by RRSM Infra, which recently got an extension up to Oct 2026 to complete the project. The contractor has been instructed to complete major part of the works before the monsoons begin in June, to prevent any safety related issues for commuters.Work on the six-lane elevated corridor began in Sep 2024. Initial deadline for completion of the works was April 2026.
