[TaurusAl]

Finally the wait is over. Drove from Mumbai to Goa and henceforth bidding adieu to the longer Mumbai - Kolhapur - Goa route.

Thought of starting this thread to discuss about the halts, eateries, clean nature breaks and other stuff with the fellow bhpians intending to travel on this route. As I frequent this route almost once a month, Ill be in a position to answer most of the queries along with others who use NH66 often.

The highway is almost 95% complete and could reach Goa in about 10 hours with a half an hour break.

The single lane road that was earlier (NH 17) had its own charm with trees on both sides but was a death trap with no divider and dangerous overt takings that our 'fine' drivers are used to.

This highway was much awaited one and is going to be a major blessing for Konkan and Goa travellers.


Here are some facts about the highway.

The under-construction National Highway (NH) 66, aka Mumbai-Goa Highway, has finally reached its last leg of completion after a decade. The completion date announced by the government is Dec 2024 which looks achievable.

Kashedi Ghat bypass tunnel is finally open and saves you from the dangerous and ghat infamouse for traffic jams, deadly hairpin turns and accidents.

The road from Rajapur onwards till Goa constructed by LNT is a pure bliss.



The few main towns the road passes through are -

Mumbai

• Panvel
• Pen
• Nagothane
• Kolad
• Indapur
• Mangaon
• Mahad
• Poladpur
• Khed
• Chiplun
• Sawarde
• Sangameshwar
• Hathkhamba (Ratnagiri Junction)
• Lanja
• Rajapur
• Kankavli
• Kudal
• Sawantwadi
• Sindhudurg
• Banda

Goa

This highway runs parallel to western ghats and is quite scenic throughout. One can witness Kokan railway running parellel or cutting the road at many place from the overhead bridges.

It is claimed that the overall time will be reduced to just 6 hours from Panvel to Goa border once the road is fully completed.

[ampere]

I am surprised at this! Quite many you tube videos show, 4-laning work is pending ?

This was the last video 10 days back from the popular drone man channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOp5s7te16Q

[TaurusAl]

Originally Posted by ampere

I am surprised at this! Quite many you tube videos show, 4-laning work is pending ?

https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=WOp5s7te16Q

This section is in the 5% that I have mentioned above. The above mentioned section was not less than a surface of the moon with deep craters just about few months back. But it is pretty motorable currently.

Another troublesome section would be around Sangameshwar for about 5 kms or so. But just for these 2 sections, I wouldn't drive extra kms and take the NH48 as that road is equally bad enough and not smooth all along.

If we go in depth of it, the road markings and signages are pending too in some sections, but the work is going on in full speed as we type here.

Also, currently the entire road is toll free and we can maintain good speeds and not many people are using this road given the bad name it has gathered over the years.

[libranof1987]

I have driven across several stretches of the NH66 over the past couple of years: Lanja to Panaji on the southern side, and Chiplun to Mangaon on the mid-section. Most recently, I was able to travel through the partially open tunnel under Kashedi ghat.

The quality of the surface overall is poor to be honest; the highway is quite bumpy and there are several stretches where the top most layer has eroded already. Moreover, there are quite a few instances, esp. in the Sidhudurg belt, where the road has started sinking, with large cracks on the concrete.

That said, this road is going to be a massive boon when traveling to Konkan / Goa from Mumbai / Pune especially, and should take a lot of traffic off NH48. Although that just means increased load on the ghats connecting NH48 to NH66: mainly, Tamhini, Ambenali and Amba/Anuskura. These ghats aren't exactly equipped to handle a sudden surge of traffic.

Lots of development ongoing on the Kerala stretch of NH66 as well.

[seaserpent@47]

If this stretch is to be completed on time, hoping this be a alternative for anyone travelling from Mangalore to Mumbai as currently we have navigate through NH66 connecting NH52 from Ankola to Dharwad bypass and take the NH48 from going up all the way till Mumbai. Also I think the Goa section from Karnataka border (Polem) cant be widened due to the thick forest passing through.

[shadkhan]

Thanks @TaurusAI
I am planning my first ever Mumbai-Goa trip and will be starting tomorrow evening. I will be driving my MG Hector plus, would you still suggest this route to a new driver(4k kms)?
If not, please suggest a better one.
It would also help a lot if you can suggest the same for the return trip from Goa-Mumbai.

[TaurusAl]

Originally Posted by shadkhan

Thanks @TaurusAI
I am planning my first ever Mumbai-Goa trip and will be starting tomorrow evening. I will be driving my MG Hector plus, would you still suggest this route to a new driver(4k kms)?
If not, please suggest a better one.
It would also help a lot if you can suggest the same for the return trip from Goa-Mumbai.

Hi Shad,

Have you done intercity trips ever? 4k Kms experience in driving and doing a 12 hour long journey may not be a best decision IMHO.

But if you have made up your mind, the Mumbai - Kolhapur - Nipani - Amboli ghat is a much better route as it is fully finished and marked with signages etc throughout. The route has dense traffic in peak hours, read that office hours when you cross Pune, Karad, Solapur and Kolhapur.

You may also take right at Karad and reach goa via Anuskura ghat. But mind you that ghat is really very steep and narrow.

NH66 does not have signages in many places and has diversions on about 3 to 4 places as well. It is well paved though if that's what you are asking. Just few bad pathches near Sangameshwar as mentioned earlier.

So if you wish to save on Kms and drive cautiously, you may consider Nh66.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by TaurusAl

The under-construction National Highway (NH) 66, aka Mumbai-Goa Highway, has finally reached its last leg of completion after a decade. The completion date announced by the government is Dec 2024 which looks achievable.

I'm more worried about the state of this road 3-4 months down the line after the Monsoons!

[shadkhan]

Thanks Taurus,

Originally Posted by TaurusAl

Have you done intercity trips ever? 4k Kms experience in driving and doing a 12 hour long journey may not be a best decision IMHO.

I have done Mumbai-Pune-Kolhapur in the same car (7hours) in a day.
I am planning to break the 12 hour trip in 2 days(starting in the evening today and taking a halt in between to sleep before starting again tomorrow).

I was told horror stories about the Amboli ghat being dangerous to drive a bigger car. Not sure if they are true.

[TaurusAl]

Originally Posted by shadkhan

Thanks Taurus,



I have done Mumbai-Pune-Kolhapur in the same car (7hours) in a day.
I am planning to break the 12 hour trip in 2 days(starting in the evening today and taking a halt in between to sleep before starting again tomorrow).

I was told horror stories about the Amboli ghat being dangerous to drive a bigger car. Not sure if they are true.

That's Wonderful that you are taking a break.

Since you are starting at night and if you know the place where you wish to halt, you may take the NH66. It will avoid any ghat sections like Anuskura, Amboli or Chorla. It will also avoid the notorious Khandala ghat traffic at night.

Just keep the speeds low at night to avoid missing any sudden diversions.

[Torq]

Originally Posted by TaurusAl

The highway is almost 95% complete


Kashedi Ghat bypass tunnel is finally open

Nowhere near 95% completion. So many patches of diversions and partially opened roads. Also, kashedi tunnel is just temporarily opened to accommodate for the summer vacay traffic. It's just one side single lane. Work is still ongoing.

[Mr.Ogre]

Whats the update on Vadhkal naka? Last time I traversed that section it was full of pot holes and very bad traffic. Successfully crossing that section sincerely felt like a major achievement in life.

[Gaur]

Originally Posted by TaurusAl

The highway is almost 95% complete and could reach Goa in about 10 hours with a half an hour break.
:

If what you are saying is true then it looks like the govt. is planning to finish/inaugurate it before the Maharashtra assembly elections or somewhere during Ganpati festival.

My worry is the construction quality will take a hit if its hurried.

[MileCruncher]

I used to take this road while going to Alibaug but haven't done so in a while ( 6-9 months). The road surface in those parts interspersed with speed breaker has been in a pain. And I have traumatic memory on the Goa - Ratnagiri - Panvel stretch from years ago.

Will wait and watch before I embark on this road.

[doga]

I did some part of this route yesterday from Malvan to Goa and indeed it looked in decent shape. I noticed the left lane towards goa at many places was proper smooth tar however most of it was yet not opened. The right lane is concrete which was serving as common lane for now.
It opnens up after Vengurla with nice smooth flowing tarmac right up till Goa. Work didnt seem to be in full swing however I reckon should be all done within an year.