Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 14: The Goa Public Works Department (PWD) has launched a major initiative to rectify accident-prone “black spots” along key highways in the state, with an overall investment of Rs 150 crore funded by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

As part of the programme, a flyover is already under construction at Dhargalim on NH-66 at a cost of Rs 34 crore to address a major traffic bottleneck and improve road safety. Officials said the location had witnessed frequent congestion and fatal accidents despite earlier highway expansion works.

To further ease traffic flow at the Dhargalim junction, a vehicular underpass project has also been taken up. The area, particularly the Don Khamb intersection, had earlier seen local protests demanding improved road safety and better traffic management.

The initiative follows observations made by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari during his 2025 visit to Goa, where he flagged issues in vehicular movement at several upgraded highway junctions.

Apart from Dhargalim, additional infrastructure works are being funded across the state. At Naibag on the same highway, an underpass and approach road are being developed. In Pernem taluka, slope protection works are underway at the landslide-prone Malpem stretch at a cost of Rs 11 crore.

In South Goa, several black spots are also being addressed, including the Verna–Nuvem section with Rs 30 crore allocated, and works at Balli and Cuncolim bus stand costing Rs 12 crore combined.

In addition, Rs 24 crore has been sanctioned for safety improvements from Baithakhol to Sakhov in Ponda, while the Centre has also approved Rs 1.7 crore for upgrades at St Andrew’s junction in Vasco on NH-366.

Officials said black spots are identified based on traffic and accident data, typically where at least five fatalities or 10 serious injuries occur within 500 metres over three years. The government has set a target to eliminate all identified black spots in Goa by 2026.