Daijiworld Media Network - Satara

Satara, Aug 26: Guardian minister Shambhuraj Desai has come down heavily on contractor firms for the inordinate delay in completing the Satara-Kolhapur and Karad-Chiplun highway works, warning of strict action including filing of criminal cases.

The six-lane Satara-Kolhapur stretch of NH-48, under construction for the past three years, now has its completion deadline pushed to March 2026. Similarly, the Karad-Chiplun road, delayed for over four years, faces a December 2025 deadline.

“These roads are vital lifelines, especially for Konkan-bound travellers during the Ganesh festival. The NHAI must present a progress chart every 15 days, and any lapse will invite criminal action,” Desai asserted.

NHAI officials assured that traffic obstructions on NH-48 will be cleared by December 2025. “By October, one side of the Karad flyover will be completed and opened for traffic,” an official said.