NH66 road update in end June 2023

NH66 road update in end June 2023.

On Wednesday 28th June 2023 started for 

Mumbai Goa 

Goa Murdeshwar Kasargod 

Kasargod Trivandrum 

Trivandrum Banglore

Banglore Mumbai 

Started from Mumbai via M2M ferry to Mandwa then via alibaug pen road (50km) joined NH66 at Nagothane which is double lane good tar road. And from Nagothane Mahad two lane road with lots of unmarked speed breakers and potholes just before/ after diversions.

(Potholes are not so big till date even smaller vehicle can manage)

I personally don't suggest night drive for few reasons.

1. There's no sign at all for any diversion

2. opposite vehicle high beam

3. Unmarked speed breaker and potholes

4. No facilities for food/ washroom (family)

5. No night garage for vehicle breakdown.

Otherwise NH66 is good till Mahad doable (please do check aftermath any heavy rain)

From Mahad to kankavli road are good with either short concrete four lane or one side concrete single lane and then kankavli  to Goa it's 4lane.

From Arga Karnataka to all the way Kerala border 4lane.

From Mumbai to kasarkod there's only 3 toll plaza active on NH66 which starts from Ankola as first one. 

From Mumbai to (from alibaug) till kankavli I haven't seen any good restaurants/dhaba. Once I entered Kankavli few okay type restaurant/dhaba started appearing.

I didn't get heavy or normal rain (apart from drizzling) so my drive was pretty smooth.

Took the M2M ferry instead of going via Panvel from Mumbai for a different experience. 

Kasargod to Calicut was challenging experience and I must admit/ salutes to the local people patience that majority of the NH66 is under construction leaving so called service road open for commute/ vehicle movement. And since its major highways in Kerala all heavy vehicles pass through this way and smaller vehicle has no choice (including ambulance) but end up snailing behind heavy vehicles unless the heavy vehicles get chance to hold/stop and certain places and let light vehicle pass (I did get few occasions such experience).

Majority of the people in Goa follow the traffic rules 💖

Now I want to highlight kerala road's one biggest challenge creates/created by private (90%) buses. They absolutely don't care and very very rash driving and they're the only challenge in the smooth lane disciplined traffic. And this things happening in northern Kerala only. Central once in while happens by KSRTC. And South kerala not witnessed anything like this behaviour possibly south Kerala has broader road network (IMO) And I can see that no body objecting or should I say that it has become routine of OKAY for keralites?

NH66 has been extended till Kerala Tamilnadu border which is another blessings. Hopefully by 2024 the widening of NH66 should be complete till Kanyakumari.

Vehicle: XUV5OO  

Courtesy: Arnold Joseph (https://www.facebook.com/Arnold74?mibextid=ZbWKwL)