Panaji: The state public works department (PWD) has taken up the work of rectifying black spots along different highways in Goa, spending Rs 150 crore, funded by the Union highways ministry.Following demands from locals, a flyover is already being constructed at Dhargalim at a cost of Rs 34 crore to correct the black spot on NH 66. Despite the expansion of highways at Dhargalim, traffic congestion was being experienced at the junction, with even some fatal accidents reported. To resolve this, the vehicular underpass work has been taken up at the Dhargalim junction.Earlier, Dhargalim residents had also held a protest raising concerns about this Don Khamb intersection due to the chaotic traffic situation at the junction, emphasising the need for a flyover to ease congestion and enhance road safety.Union highways minister Nitin Gadkari had also pointed out to PWD officials after his 2025 visit to Goa that despite the highway four-laning in Goa, several junctions were displaying incorrect flow of vehicular movement.Other than the Dhargalim project, pegged at Rs 37 crore, the Union ministry is also funding the construction of the vehicular underpass along the same highway near Naibag, including the approach road.Also in Pernem, the ministry has already sanctioned the work of permanent slope protection measures at the landslide-prone Malpem location. After the hill was cut for highway expansion, landslides were being witnessed at Malpem, leading to the highway being shut. Work is now being taken up at a cost of Rs 11 crore.Several black spots will also be corrected in South Goa. Rs 30 crore will be spent to rectify the Verna-Nuvem section. Another Rs 12 crore work order has been granted to correct the black spot at Balli and at Cuncolim bus stand.Black spots are identified by corroborating data from the transport department and traffic police. An area is classified as a black spot if over three years, five fatalities or 10 grievous injuries occur on a stretch of 500m. Sources said that according to the central ministry’s directives, Goa has to eliminate all the identified black spots by 2026.The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1.7crore for improvement of St Andrew’s junction at Vasco on NH 366.Another Rs 24 crore is being spent to correct the black spot and implement road safety measures from Baithakhol to Sakhov, covering 1.61km in Ponda taluka.
