Goa Elevated Corridor Access Restricted After Accidents Claim Two Lives, Days After Opening

Authorities in Goa have temporarily restricted traffic on the 5.15-km Porvorim elevated corridor following a series of accidents near its Panjim exit, including a crash that claimed two lives. The move comes just days after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the corridor on Wednesday, with the stretch opened to motorists on Friday. The elevated corridor, constructed at an estimated cost of ₹364.68 crore, connects the Mumbai-Goa highway with Panaji. Construction began in January 2024 following delays related to procedural clearances.

The latest fatal accident occurred on Saturday when a car crashed near the southern end of the corridor. Officials attributed the incident to concerns over the design of the entry and exit arrangement leading towards Panjim. Following the accident, the Goa Public Works Department (PWD) ordered a temporary closure of access points on the Atal Setu side. Officials said the decision was taken to study real-world traffic conditions and assess vehicle movement, congestion, diversion patterns and the overall operational performance of the newly opened corridor.

Under the order issued on Sunday evening, traffic travelling between Panjim and Porvorim, as well as vehicles heading towards the popular North Goa beach belt, will not be able to use the affected access points until further notice. The PWD has also prohibited two-wheelers from using the elevated corridor.

Authorities will closely track several traffic indicators during the restriction, including journey times, queue lengths, congestion levels and traffic diversion patterns across the corridor and surrounding road network. The elevated corridor had been presented as a major infrastructure project aimed at easing long-standing congestion between Panaji and Porvorim. It was expected to improve connectivity towards popular tourist destinations such as Calangute and Anjuna, while also providing a smoother route towards Mopa airport.

The corridor connects with the Atal Setu, another major infrastructure project whose construction cost exceeded ₹1,000 crore. Together, the projects were expected to significantly improve traffic movement along one of Goa's busiest routes. Goa PWD Minister Digambar Kamat had reviewed the project's progress last month and stressed the importance of maintaining high standards of safety, quality and execution. He described the corridor as an important project for reducing congestion and improving connectivity for residents and commuters in Porvorim and surrounding areas.

Kamat had also said the new flyover would provide relief to commuters travelling between Panaji and Mapusa, a route that has experienced heavy traffic for years. According to him, the elevated road would cut travel time and make daily journeys easier for people travelling to workplaces, schools and other destinations.

The state government had pushed for the corridor to open before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival despite some finishing work still being pending. Kamat had maintained that, from a traffic-management perspective, the structure was safe enough to be opened while the remaining work continued. The accidents reported shortly after its opening have now prompted authorities to reassess the traffic arrangements. The temporary restrictions are expected to remain in place until officials complete their assessment and determine the next course of action.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.