The revised cost is around Rs 5,500 crore higher than the original sanctioned amount of Rs 11,409.14 crore for the project's 10 four-laning packages. According to the RTI information, Rs 11,577 crore has already been spent on the 10 packages, exceeding the original sanctioned cost, while several stretches remain incomplete.
The largest cost increase has been reported for the Parshuram Ghat-Arawali package in the Chiplun-Ratnagiri section. Its sanctioned cost has increased from Rs 983 crore to Rs 2,226 crore, a rise of around 126%.
The four-laning project has faced delays related to land acquisition, pre-construction activities, statutory clearances and financial difficulties faced by contractors. The Panvel-Indapur section, covering 84 km, was initiated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in 2011, while the 355 km Indapur-Zarap section was started in 2018 through the Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) as an agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The prolonged construction has affected traffic movement between Mumbai and the Konkan region, particularly during periods of increased travel. Unfinished sections, narrow carriageways and construction zones have contributed to traffic congestion and longer journey times.
The project has also faced judicial scrutiny. In January 2024, the Bombay High Court observed that delays in NH-66 widening and repair works were causing hardship to commuters and increasing the financial burden on the state exchequer.
The latest RTI figures have renewed attention on the project's cost escalation and execution timeline, as expenditure has crossed the original sanctioned amount while portions of the highway remain under construction.
