The contractor responsible for delays in the construction of the Khanapur to Goa border stretch of National Highway 748 (earlier NH-4A) has been penalized ₹3.2 crore, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
The minister stated that the highway upgrade spans 52 kilometers and involves widening the road into a two-lane highway with and without paved shoulders. The work, however, has been significantly delayed due to lapses on the contractor’s part. As of now, 72% of the work has been completed. Gadkari assured that the entire project is expected to be completed by March 2026.
Project Status:
- Belagavi–Khanapur Section (Package I):
- Length: 30 km
- Scope: 4-laning from Km 0.000 to Km 30.800
- Status: Completed
- Toll Collection: Ongoing at Ganebail toll plaza
- Contractor: M/s Ashoka Concessions Ltd.
- Khanapur–Anmod Section (Package II):
- Scope:
- 2-laning with paved shoulder: Km 30.800 to Km 70.800
- 2-laning without paved shoulder: Km 70.800 to Goa border at Km 84.120
- Status: Incomplete
- Scope:
Gadkari clarified that toll collection is currently active only in the completed Belagavi–Khanapur section. No user fee is being collected on the Khanapur–Anmod stretch as the work is still underway.
The project, initially sanctioned in 2018 at ₹486.78 crore, faced major delays after the Karnataka High Court imposed a stay on construction in 2019, following a petition by environmental groups from Bengaluru concerned about ecological damage in the Western Ghats region. The stay has since been lifted, and the Centre has now sanctioned ₹4,000 crore to ensure the project’s completion.
Once fully operational, the upgraded NH-748 is expected to significantly boost connectivity between Karnataka and Goa, easing travel and freight movement across the Western Ghats.
Source: Prajavani
The contractor has systematically avoided the construction of three bridges on the stretch between Ramnagar and Anmod. The age old bridges which are in a dilapidated condition have been connected to the new highway which will be surely hazardous for the commuters in the future. This should be thoroughly investigated and the contractor should be compelled construct new bridges in their place other wise the entire highway would be useless for the tavellers.
Who is the contractor of Phase II why that’s not mentioned
Release has no name mentioned.
Still forest Department authority are money collection is on going.
The NHAI project from the khanapur to Anmod has been delayed for several years and due to this various business and the job has been wiped out I feel that the NHAI has appointed the worse contractor who is not fit for the project work we can call under experience or not liable for work and how NHAI is silence?????
This shows the incompetency of the officers of CPWD as this matter should have been reported to the ministry as soon as the work was delayed I am of the opinion that the sad highway will not be completed before 20 26 has the task of construction of bridges and roads require more time there is a ffected on the river the work of this ministry he is efficient but the officers of CPWD are in efficient and that is the reason of this delay
The nh748.4A is pending for several years and now the matere construction pvt ltd has given to the sub contractors Yeswani construction.yeswani construction company is not fit for the project at it doesn’t have the manpower machinery and low quality work.
Many casualties has been observed in past
Please rectify the road
The contractor has faulted on multiple counts. He has not completed the project is an understatement. You don’t see people working on the incompleted work. Worst, the diversions at all the places are in absolutely underivable condition.