Public Works Department (PWD), Maharashtra has informed that around 70 percent of repair work on the Mumbai-Goa highway (NH-66) has been completed despite disruptions caused by heavy rains. 

With nearly 10 lakh commuters expected to travel to the Konkan region for Ganeshotsav, authorities are expediting work using steel slag technology, a byproduct of steel production. This method, previously tested in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, is being deployed at several stretches to quickly seal potholes while improving durability, skid resistance, and load-bearing capacity, thereby reducing long-term maintenance costs. 

The Mumbai-Goa highway spans 460 km, with 84 km under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the rest managed by PWD. Concerns over road safety were heightened recently after a viral drone video showed crater-like potholes on the Vashishti bridge in Chiplun. Officials clarified the bridge was repaired immediately. To ease traffic congestion during the festival, the Deputy RTO (Panvel) has restricted movement of heavy vehicles weighing over 16 tonne on designated days.