Mumbai-Goa NH-66 curbs heavy vehicles for Ganeshotsav

Multi-axle trucks, trailers and heavy goods carriers with a gross weight capacity of 16 tonnes or more will be barred from the Mumbai-Goa National Highway, NH-66, during key Ganeshotsav travel and immersion periods.

The first restriction runs from 12.01am on September 11 to 11pm on September 15. Further bans apply from 8am to 11pm on September 18; from 8am on September 19 to 11pm on September 20; and from 8am on September 25 to 8pm on September 26.

The state Transport Department issued the directive under the Motor Vehicles Act as passenger traffic rises on the Konkan route, with MSRTC buses, other transport services and private vehicles added to the usual flow. It follows the state’s wider Ganeshotsav traffic plan for the Mumbai-Goa highway.

Exemptions cover vehicles carrying milk, fuel, LPG cylinders, medicines, liquid medical oxygen, vegetables, foodgrains and other perishable essentials, as well as ambulances, police vehicles and fire tenders. JNPT- and Jaigarh Port-linked import-export cargo can also travel. Highway-widening vehicles need a traffic or highway police entry pass.

Navi Mumbai’s police commissioner and superintendents of police in neighbouring districts can allow conditional relaxations based on local traffic conditions.