🔴 By | Arvind Jadhav
🟡 Incomplete Highway Work Creates Danger Zone
Ratnagiri – The ongoing widening work on the Mumbai–Goa National Highway (NH-66) has created a dangerous situation for residents living along the route. In several stretches, the work remains incomplete, leaving exposed soil and unstable slopes. With the onset of the monsoon, these weak sections have started to erode, increasing the risk of landslides and structural damage to nearby properties.
🟡 House in Ratnagiri Faces Immediate Threat
In Mahabale village of Sangameshwar taluka in Ratnagiri district, the house of Vasant Soma Khapre is facing a serious threat. A large portion of soil beneath the structure has already collapsed due to roadside excavation work. The weakened foundation has made the house extremely vulnerable, and locals fear it could collapse at any moment, especially with continued rainfall.
🟡 Temporary Fixes, No Permanent Solution
Residents have attempted temporary measures such as covering the exposed area with plastic sheets and placing stones to prevent further erosion. However, these makeshift arrangements offer little protection against heavy rains and cannot replace proper engineering solutions.
🟡 Technical Failures in Construction Work
Experts and locals have pointed out several technical shortcomings in the highway project. These include the absence of proper retaining walls, inadequate drainage systems to channel rainwater, and lack of slope stabilization measures. Such failures have directly contributed to soil erosion and increased vulnerability of roadside structures.
🟡 Allegations of Contractor Negligence
Local residents have raised concerns over the negligence of contractors and lack of proper supervision. In many areas, work has reportedly been left incomplete without ensuring safety precautions. This has not only delayed the project but also put lives and property at risk.
🟡 Demand for Immediate Government Action
Citizens are urging the National Highways Authority to take the matter seriously and conduct an immediate inspection. There is also a strong demand for the District Collector to intervene and issue urgent instructions to the concerned departments to implement corrective measures.
🟡 Urgent Need for Safety Measures
Authorities are expected to take immediate steps such as constructing strong retaining walls, improving drainage systems, and stabilizing vulnerable slopes. Without timely intervention, the risk of a major accident or loss of life remains high.
The situation on the Mumbai–Goa Highway highlights the consequences of incomplete and poorly managed infrastructure projects. Unless swift and effective action is taken, what is currently a warning sign could soon turn into a tragic incident.
