<p>Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the work on the Mumbai-Goa highway will be completed by December this year, which would give a huge boost to development in Maharashtra's Konkan region.</p>.<p>He was speaking at the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony in Panvel of the concretisation of the Palaspe-Indupur national highway stretch and some other routes.</p>.<p>The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said several works in the state's Konkan region were held up due to issues like land acquisition, permissions, contractor problems.</p>.<p>He also announced the construction of the Rs 13,000 crore Morbe-Karanjade road, which will go through Jawaharlal Nehru Port and reduce the time needed to cover the distance between Mumbai and Delhi to 12 hours.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/indias-highways-infra-to-match-us-by-2024-gadkari-1203645.html" target="_blank">India's highways infra to match US by 2024: Gadkari</a></strong></p>.<p>Work on the Rs 1,200 crore Kalamboli junction and Rs 1,200 crore Pagode junction too will begin soon, he said.</p>.<p>He said the much-delayed Mumbai-Goa national highway work will be completed by December this year, which will hugely boost development prospects of the Konkan area.</p>.<p>"The Mumbai-Goa highway touches 66 tourism spots in Maharashtra's Konkan. It will give development a high boost. It will also ensure quick transportation of fruits and other produce the region is famous for," Gadkari said.</p>.<p>He blamed the contractors who were given two stretches for construction in 2011 for the delay.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/logistics-costs-will-come-down-to-9-of-gdp-by-2024-end-nitin-gadkari-1204448.html" target="_blank">Logistics costs will come down to 9% of GDP by 2024 end: Nitin Gadkari</a></strong></p>.<p>The highway is being built and widened in 11 phases.</p>.<p>"However, all matters are resolved now and the highway, which also connects JNPT and Dighi port, will help in the progress of the country," Gadkari said.</p>.<p>He also asked state governments to go in for roads with 6-8 inch topping so that they have a life of 50 years, as well as periodic updating of black spots for proactive rectification.</p>.<p>"India sees 5 lakh road accidents a year, of which 1.5 lakh are fatal, with many of those dead in the 18-34 age group. This is distressing. All efforts must be taken to curb accidents," he said.</p>.<p>Gadkari also said his ministry was in the process of introducing satellite-based fare collection on highways instead of having toll nakas that obstruct free flow of traffic.</p>.<p>Maharashtra must study the feasibility of seaplane, hovercraft and water taxi systems for the Konkan region, which is blessed with a long coastline, for tourism and transport purposes, the Union minister said.</p>
<p>Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the work on the Mumbai-Goa highway will be completed by December this year, which would give a huge boost to development in Maharashtra's Konkan region.</p>.<p>He was speaking at the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony in Panvel of the concretisation of the Palaspe-Indupur national highway stretch and some other routes.</p>.<p>The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said several works in the state's Konkan region were held up due to issues like land acquisition, permissions, contractor problems.</p>.<p>He also announced the construction of the Rs 13,000 crore Morbe-Karanjade road, which will go through Jawaharlal Nehru Port and reduce the time needed to cover the distance between Mumbai and Delhi to 12 hours.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/indias-highways-infra-to-match-us-by-2024-gadkari-1203645.html" target="_blank">India's highways infra to match US by 2024: Gadkari</a></strong></p>.<p>Work on the Rs 1,200 crore Kalamboli junction and Rs 1,200 crore Pagode junction too will begin soon, he said.</p>.<p>He said the much-delayed Mumbai-Goa national highway work will be completed by December this year, which will hugely boost development prospects of the Konkan area.</p>.<p>"The Mumbai-Goa highway touches 66 tourism spots in Maharashtra's Konkan. It will give development a high boost. It will also ensure quick transportation of fruits and other produce the region is famous for," Gadkari said.</p>.<p>He blamed the contractors who were given two stretches for construction in 2011 for the delay.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/logistics-costs-will-come-down-to-9-of-gdp-by-2024-end-nitin-gadkari-1204448.html" target="_blank">Logistics costs will come down to 9% of GDP by 2024 end: Nitin Gadkari</a></strong></p>.<p>The highway is being built and widened in 11 phases.</p>.<p>"However, all matters are resolved now and the highway, which also connects JNPT and Dighi port, will help in the progress of the country," Gadkari said.</p>.<p>He also asked state governments to go in for roads with 6-8 inch topping so that they have a life of 50 years, as well as periodic updating of black spots for proactive rectification.</p>.<p>"India sees 5 lakh road accidents a year, of which 1.5 lakh are fatal, with many of those dead in the 18-34 age group. This is distressing. All efforts must be taken to curb accidents," he said.</p>.<p>Gadkari also said his ministry was in the process of introducing satellite-based fare collection on highways instead of having toll nakas that obstruct free flow of traffic.</p>.<p>Maharashtra must study the feasibility of seaplane, hovercraft and water taxi systems for the Konkan region, which is blessed with a long coastline, for tourism and transport purposes, the Union minister said.</p>