[vivek95]

Originally Posted by moralfibre

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Thank you

Originally Posted by NiInJa

Just wanted to add one more point. The stretch from Pune's Chandani Chowk till Tamhini Ghat is getting widened and converted to concrete for some parts. This means that People heading to Goa from Pune can actually take this route of Tamhini and hit the old Mumbai-Goa highway instead of going all the way down on NH4 and reach Sawantwadi via Amboli ghat.
As mentioned by Dr. Vivek95 and also from the photos/videos uploaded, this is going to be one heck of a road once completed. Extremely scenic after monsoon. The work of Sindhudurg Airport (Chipi Airport) too was going on pretty fast when I visited Malvan right before lockdown. If I am not mistaken, the distance between North Goa and this airport is under 100 km.

Agree with you. The Pune--Tamhini--Mangaon connection could be the best alternative for NH4--Amboli, to Goa. I was on a superquick solo drive on Mumbai--Mulshi--Tamhini--Mumbai via Pune last year June 2019. The road for the most part was under construction but one could mostly drive on the completed one sided concrete stretches. If I am not wrong, this road is only being widened and cemented, because from what I could figure out, its not going to be a 4 lane ?? Only nearing Tamhini, the road was intermittently very bad and very smooth. But the bad stretches meant the road was dug up for construction. I turned back from Tamhini (exactly 200 kms mark from Mulund, Mumbai ) as it was just a casual drive.

Some pics from my drive last year --


This one was near Mulshi lake residency resort





This was one near Paud




I hope the stretch from Chandni Chowk till Pirangut is widened to 4/6 lanes, as it is highly traffic prone and Pune city is contiguous till Pirangut or even Paud if you ask me.

Yes, the distance from new Sindhudurg airport to North Goa is around 80kms.

Of all the ghat roads connecting NH4 to NH17, I can think of only three that are being upgraded to cemented/widened roads -
1. Pune--Mangaon connection, Tamhini ghat
2. Belgaum--Goa NH4A, Anmod ghat ( widened to 4 lanes till Khanapur )
3. Hubli--Ankola ( widened to 4 lanes till Yellapur ), Arebail ghat


+++

By the way, this one is the completed 4 lane stretch of NH17 at my most favourite spot at Maravanthe beach, near Kundapur, Karnataka. This was in Nov 2019 when I had driven Mumbai to Manipal. I will share videos soon.




4 laning of NH17 in Karnataka is in fast progress as well, I could drive Manipal to Ankola Kamat hotel in 3 hours flat. (190 kms )

[alphadog]

Thank you Moralfibre, for the well researched and collated information about the Konkan highway. It is truly heartening to see the rapid construction happening to give us the wide highways across what would be a very scenic route.
As someone mentioned, the coastal highway possibly needs to be considered in parts. I would further divide it into four parts - 1. Mumbai-Goa, 2. Goa- Mangalore, 3. Mangalore - Thiruvananthapuram and then 4. Thiruvananthapuram- Kanyakumari. It is number 3 - Mangalore - TVM which is the weak point in this route. This stretch is crying out for a proper wide highway. The bit between Ponnani and Kozhikode, is appaling with undivided narrow roads, passing through busy towns, with lots of small - slow vehicles.
I do the Thrissur - Kozhikode stretch often, and it is a frustrating route to say the least . To give an idea, a distance of 120 odd kms on this route takes anywhere between 3-5 hrs depending on the day of the week and time of the day.

The central government has big plans to widen this stretch and has always been ready to do its part and fund it, unfortunately land acquisition issues, protests, political posturing, apathy and lack of funds from the state government leads to the sorry state of affairs in this stretch. I am ever hopeful that when people of my state see the development happening in other states, and stop living like frogs in a well, then some much needed infra development will happen.

Do keep the thread updated with the developments. It is always nice to hear of positive happenings in these times.

Cheerio!

[moralfibre]

06Jul'20

#NH66
Mumbai goa highway
Nandgaon phata flyover
Pc:Konkan beauty

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[imzahid]

Being a resident of Mumbai and a native of Sindhudurg, the Mumbai-Goa highway has been an essential part of my life right from my childhood till date. I still remember going for those annual vacations and just gazing out of the window at the mesmerizing beauty that Konkan is. Driving on Kashedi ghat (regular commuters would know that the U-turn at the top of Kashedi ghat feels like the top of the world) and Parshuram ghat gives a kind of pleasure which you wont be able to attain on other roads.

Having said that, the highway was one of the most dangerous in our country due to its single lane setup. Every overtaking maneuver was an adventure in itself as you had to perfectly judge your speed as well as the speed of vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Blind turns and hairpin bends made the matters much worse. You could find a number of cars crashed and casually lying on the side of the road. Lately, people have been avoiding this route due to traffic congestion as well as the never ending road widening work. This post gave a positive hope that people will resume taking this route and the traveling will be more convenient in the future. This route is Konkan's pride and I hope it is maintained that way by the concerned authorities.

[moralfibre]

11Jul'20

#Nh66
Mumbai Goa highway
From base of kashedi ghat to khed , road is 100% done
4th pic is of new jagbudi bridge at khed.The old bridge is shut

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12Jul'20

#NH66
Mumbai goa highway
Highway going through Oros,Sindhudurg is one of the longest 6 lane section in konkan with 2 overpasses and service road on both sides
Pc:Sairaj Gad

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[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by moralfibre

Highway going through Oros,Sindhudurg is one of the longest 6 lane section in konkan with 2 overpasses and service road on both sides

6 Lane + Service lanes on both sides is indeed heartening to know because many of our highways that have seen expansion from even 4 to 6 lane have compromised on the width of the first lane (usually narrow with hardly any shoulder) and narrower median too.

The availability of service lanes on both sides on this dense coastal Konkan corridor will ensure that misc traffic doesn't affect the free movement of highway traffic. Long overpasses will further ensure no illegal median breaks get created overnight for 2 wheelers to cross the corridor from either sides.

Cannot wait to drive on this stretch now reading and seeing all these wonderful updates!!

[samaspire]

https://youtu.be/fGvkOkHiCKY

This is the Marvanthe beach stretch. You could see the sea and the river at the same time while driving through this stretch. That's not possible anymore, but it sure does look beautiful from the air.

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by vivek95

+++

By the way, this one is the completed 4 lane stretch of NH17 at my most favourite spot at Maravanthe beach, near Kundapur, Karnataka.

4 laning of NH17 in Karnataka is in fast progress as well, I could drive Manipal to Ankola Kamat hotel in 3 hours flat. (190 kms )

Originally Posted by samaspire

This is the Marvanthe beach stretch. You could see the sea and the river at the same time while driving through this stretch. That's not possible anymore, but it sure does look beautiful from the air.

Here is a video of me driving through the Maravanthe beach stretch, Kundapur--Bhatkal section, NH17, Karnataka amidst heavy rains last year

https://youtu.be/PTc4MLLamFo

I agree, the true beauty of this road was it's 2 lane avatar. Here is an aerial pic taken from the internet.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by samaspire

This is the Marvanthe beach stretch. You could see the sea and the river at the same time while driving through this stretch. That's not possible anymore, but it sure does look beautiful from the air.

Originally Posted by vivek95

I agree, the true beauty of this road was it's 2 lane avatar. Here is an aerial pic taken from the internet.

Yes, that is a gorgeous stretch!

Was in college at Manipal 20 years ago and we used to bike down to this stretch just to go up and down a couple of times! With the road widening and elevation, you can no longer see the beach and the river at the same time now. Also, those stone sea-walls (is that what they are?) are a recent development. Am sure they are necessary, but there doesn't seem to be a beach really any more there. I remember a resort called Turtle Bay there, was pretty nice, looks like that has shut down too.

Edit: Apparently those stone things are called 'groynes'. https://www.daijiworld.com/news/news...?newsID=521893 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groyne

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Here is a video of me driving through the Maravanthe beach stretch, Kundapur--Bhatkal section, NH17, Karnataka amidst heavy rains last year

Judging by the heavy truck traffic, this definitely deserved to be 4-laned a long time ago, if not 6-laned. Three cheers to Nitin Gadkari for taking this up.

[moralfibre]

15Jul'20

#Nh66
Mumbai Goa highway
Near Humbrat phata
2)Rest area for truckers on right
3)Exit for Kolhapur

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18Jul'20

#NH66
Mumbai -Goa Highway.
u/c Bridge Near Rajapur. 300 m long .very close to existing old bridge. 1/2
pc.-Vaibhav Gurav.

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19Jul'20

#NH66
Mumbai goa highway
Sindhudurg section

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[vivek95]

Crisp updates as always @moralfibre. Any idea about how many tolls between Mumbai and Goa/MH-Goa border ??

Also, is Chiplun getting a bypass ?? I could understand from your updates that Kanakavli town will have the new highway passing through and through the town with an elevated section. Ratnagiri city is anyhow inside NH17, likewise Mahad. Chiplun I don't remember, if the old highway already had a bypass.

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Also, is Chiplun getting a bypass ?? I could understand from your updates that Kanakavli town will have the new highway passing through and through the town with an elevated section. Ratnagiri city is anyhow inside NH17, likewise Mahad. Chiplun I don't remember, if the old highway already had a bypass.

Not sure Vivek. I believe Chiplun will continue to run through the town with an elevated section just like it is for Kankavli. Same state for Kudal. Only major town to get a bypass AFAIK is Sawantwadi.

Don't have much clue on the toll booths. I remember having passed 3-4 of them atleast when I rode up in February.

[Torq]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Ratnagiri city is anyhow inside NH17, likewise Mahad. I don't remember, if the old highway already had a bypass.

Small correction. Old and new NH17 bypasses Mahad completely. There are three main entry and exit points to the city from the same. What one sees on the highway are the adjoining small villages and the newer extension of Mahad suburbs
I was born and brought up in Mahad.

[moralfibre]

28Jul'20

#NH66
Mumbai Goa highway
Proper median landscaping has started in Sindhudurg

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