[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

The Sawantwadi Bypass itself when it was completed a bliss to drive. Can't imagine the fun of driving once these crucial bypasses are completed along with 4 laning of the overall stretch!

With so many villages and towns on the entire Panvel - Sawantwadi stretch, the joy of driving was cut short frequently while encountering these towns and villages. The completion of this one will also give little respite to Mumbai - Kolhapur section.

Once the road comes through, I am sure to take a drive on it. Even after it's 75% complete, it should be worth a trip. Right now, it is messier than normal. A friend decided to get adventurous and spent about 15-16 hours on his bike covering Bombay to Goa! Most of it was an offroad like experience

Sahil Pednekar was kind enough to point me to some more posts from Jun'19 on the status of the road. Here you go:

Oct'18 update:

Finally, a concrete highway in Konkan. a few opened sections between Nandgaon and Kankavli. The concrete is laid using paving inset machine. According to my relatives in Talere, road laying work has once again started in full steam
PC: Saurabh Gulekar

08Jun'19:

Between Kudal and Talere: A few overpasses, bridges have been opened. Small plants have been planted from Kankavli onwards. Streets lights poles are can seen in last pic for Kasarde overpass

Between kudal and sawantwadi bypass. Overpasses are opened even though parapet walls are missing. A few asphalt sections for ramps and exit/entry points are also done.

10Jun'19

Between Talere to Lanja. KCC buildcon have been excellent in completing its section. All the old bridges have been demolished and trying to open one lane of bridges to traffic asap. Hills on this section have been majorly cut to straighten the road

[moralfibre]

Splitting the post to make it readable:

02Jun'19:

Street signs,Crash barriers, lane markings have started to appear between Kankavli and Sawantwadi. DBL is making fast progress. the only thing remaining in this section will be Kudal overpass and Kankavli flyover
PC: Abhishek Patwardhan

Another dual section done in Khed by Chetak enterprise.
All the contractors are trying to complete as much work as possible before infamous monsoon hits Konkan. Sangameshwar section is lagging majorly behind bcz of its hilly terrain
PC; Shankar deb

I haven't had a road update excite me as much as the old NH17 getting redone. Can't wait for it to complete.

[a_myth]

After a few spells of heavy rains and the unfinished sections of NH66 have become a mess. The pot holes have become deep with movement of heavy vehicles and lack of proper signboards for most of the section means you need to be extra careful of the detours.
Also where the concrete sections have been completed, many places the sections have 3-4 mtrs gap which is filled with loose aggregate. Difficult to maintain a steady speed.
Ratnagiri to Goa took me about 5:30 hrs to cover approx 230 kms. Best to avoid this route presently.
Attaching a few pictures for reference

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by a_myth

Ratnagiri to Goa took me about 5:30 hrs to cover approx 230 kms. Best to avoid this route presently.
Attaching a few pictures for reference

What's the alternate route from Goa to Ratnagiri? I believe there is no other choice right?

[a_myth]

Originally Posted by moralfibre

What's the alternate route from Goa to Ratnagiri? I believe there is no other choice right?

The only option for Goa to Ratnagiri is the highway, although there might be a road along the coast which I believe is longer and require ferry crossing. What I wanted to suggest is to avoid this highway for travel from Goa to Mumbai at least during the monsoon.

[moralfibre]

More updates from Sahil:

#nh66 Mumbai goa highway
Wadkhal naka bypass
For upcoming ganapati chaturthi they have opened one side of flyover for both way traffic but expect ride to b bumpy as it's opened in peak monsoon
Pc:Gopal kamath

#nh66 Mumbai goa highway
Kashedi tunnel.
Pc: sanjay kadam

[moralfibre]

An older update around Kashedi Ghat dated 10Apr'19:

Mumbai Goa highway #NH 66. A real dream come true moment for people of konkan. Never thought tunnel plan through Kashedi ghats wil ever come true
1)Approach from south end
2)Near the mouth of tunnels
3)southbound tunnel
4)Gettin ready to blast northbound tunnel
PC: Robin Sunny

[procrj]

Planning a drive during the independence day weekend and as of now, the plan is drive BLR - Panchgani - Shirwal - Bhor - Mahad - Chiplun - Ganapatipule - Malvan - Amboli - Belgaum - BLR. Looking for information and advise on condition of NH66. Another factor is rains - a few very reliable weather blogs have predicted heavy to very heavy rains between 14-17th Aug in and around coastal Goa and MH. Would it be advisable to drive on NH66 given the current conditions + possiblity of heavy rains? We will be a group of 6-7 cars with family.

[moralfibre]

Sahil came back with nicer updates on NH66

Mumbai goa highway #Nh66
Near my village from Tarele to Nandgaon which also contains one of the longest straight line stretch
(4 kms) as against the normal curvy stretches of Konkan
PC: Best of Sindhudurg

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by moralfibre

Sahil came back with nicer updates on NH66

Looks YUMMY!. Will be even yummier when it is fully done. Can't wait to drive this side. One of the most mesmerizing highways to drive in our country!

[hitman_reloaded]

Hello FellowBHpians;
I would be traveling to Goa via Kolhapur. I want to travel further from Goa to Mumbai. What would be the best route to take for my return journey? I have travelled to Goa via Kolhapur route many a times but have never used the Mumbai - Goa NH66.
Appreciate your words of advice.
Thanks.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by moralfibre

Sahil came back with nicer updates on NH66

Would appreciate more latest updates on this. Is the old Mumbai - Goa highway drivable from Mumbai to Kankavli?

I had done this as a kid and as many have said, it is one of the most pleasant routes in our country.
Travelling on 30th and planned for the Mumbai - Kolhapur - Gagan Bawda route to reach Kankavli. However, if this is manageable then would love to give it a try.

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

Would appreciate more latest updates on this. Is the old Mumbai - Goa highway drivable from Mumbai to Kankavli?

Complete updates for 2019-2020 are added in this new thread:

Link

[RavSam]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

I had done this as a kid and as many have said, it is one of the most pleasant routes in our country.

Tell me about it. I love this route so much that I bought an apartment at Kudal nearby where my relatives live just to drive to and fro to Goa on weekends (and occasionally to Malvan/Tarkarli)

I've ridden TVS Jupiter from Goa GMC to Kudal and it was such a bliss even on that ride!

[dipen]

Does anyone recommend Mumbai-GanpathiPhule-SouthGoa-Mumbai.
- doing Nh66 coastal route in one leg with an overnight halt in ganpatiphule like starting 5am from Mumbai
- to south goa next day starting 9 am and settle for a week.
- do return leg using AH47 starting at 10 am direct to Mumbai reaching before mid-night

Intent/idea to get the best all scenic drives. Car intended is an i20 with 2 people and a small child. Any challenges seen with the route or plan.