Authorities on Sunday restricted use of the 5.15-kilometre Porvorim elevated corridor in Goa after multiple mishaps at the Panjim exit claimed two lives, days after Union minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated it on Wednesday and it was opened to traffic on Friday. Work on the corridor began in January 2024 after procedural delays and was built at an estimated cost of ₹ 364.68 crore.
The PWD banned two-wheelers from using the corridor. Last month, state PWD minister Digambar Kamat reviewed the progress of the corridor and emphasised the highest standards of quality, safety and timely execution. The corridor was inaugurated ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. He added that they have faced congestion on this stretch for years.
The corridor and the Atal Setu, which it leads to, built at a cost of over 1,000 crore, will no longer be accessible to traffic to and from Panjim and Porvorim, or to Goa’s popular north Goa beach belt. Kamat said the 5.15-kilometre flyover will bring reduced travel time.
Officials said the corridor was shuttered as a temporary measure to assess and monitor the actual traffic movement, pattern, congestion levels, and operational performance. “All entry and exit points/access towards the Atal Setu side shall remain closed… from the date of implementation until further notice, during which the traffic flow shall be continuously observed and monitored,” the Goa Public Works Department (PWD) said in an order on Sunday evening. The order said that authorities will monitor travel time, queue length, congestion, diversion patterns and other relevant traffic parameters on the corridor and the adjoining broad network. He called the project vital and said it will help ease traffic congestion, strengthen connectivity and provide a smoother commuting experience for the people of Porvorim and Goa. Kamat said the project’s completion will be a major relief for the people of Panjim and Mapusa thanks to faster connectivity between the two places.
Kamat called the corridor a landmark project reflecting the impact of the double engine government, or Bharatiya Janata Party governments in the state and at the Centre, working together for Goa’s progress. Kamat called it a welcome change for everyone who uses this route regularly.
He said the improved traffic flow will make the daily journey from Mapusa to Panjim much easier, as less time will be spent in traffic and there will be greater convenience for people travelling to work, schools, and for their everyday needs.
