Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: Traffic near the Porvorim flyover came to a grinding halt on Monday morning as the Public Works Department (PWD) carried out a trial diversion ahead of the closure of key stretches of National Highway 66 for the construction of the Porvorim–Guirim elevated corridor.
Between 10 am and 1 pm, vehicles were diverted onto the narrow service road, leading to long traffic snarls and delays stretching across Porvorim and adjoining areas. Commuters faced severe congestion as the PWD tested its traffic management plan for the upcoming closure.
The affected sections include the Aradi Junction–Holy Family Church Junction (P8–P16) and O’Coqueiro Junction–Shivaji Chowk (P55–P67), which will be fully closed once construction begins. Only emergency vehicles were allowed on these stretches during the trial run.
Heavy vehicles heading towards Panaji were rerouted via Karaswada–Bicholim, while those bound for Mapusa took the Panaji–Old Goa–Sankhalim–Bicholim–Assonora–Tivim route. Light vehicles were diverted through Socorro and B B Borkar Road to reach Panaji, while northbound traffic to Mapusa was redirected via CHOGM Road, Sangolda and Guirim.
PWD officials assured that local residents and businesses would continue to have access during the closure. Traffic marshals had been deployed round the clock, and additional signage has been installed to guide motorists.
“The trial run was necessary to identify bottlenecks and fine-tune the diversion plan before the actual closure begins,” a senior PWD official said.
The elevated corridor project, aimed at easing congestion on the busy Porvorim–Guirim stretch of NH-66, is expected to be one of Goa’s major infrastructure undertakings. However, Monday’s traffic chaos has raised concerns about the preparedness of diversion arrangements once full-scale work begins.
