Raigad youth documents NH-66 hazards, submits report to Nitin Gadkari

Activist Walks 490 Km to Flag Mumbai–Goa Road

Amid mounting public anger over the poor condition of the Mumbai&ndash;Goa highway, a young activist from Maharashtra&rsquo;s Raigad district has drawn national attention by undertaking a 490-km walk to document safety risks along the route. Chaitanya Patil, 28, completed the entire stretch of National Highway 66 to highlight hazards faced by daily commuters and long-distance travellers.
Patil termed his campaign a Rasta Satyagraha and spent 29 days walking from Palaspe in Raigad to the highway&rsquo;s endpoint, identifying potholes, accident-prone zones, missing road signage, incomplete bridges and other infrastructure gaps. His findings were compiled and sent to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari through Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant.
The walk began on August 9 and concluded on October 20. Despite interruptions due to heavy rainfall and health concerns, Patil continued his journey to ensure comprehensive on-ground documentation of the highway&rsquo;s condition.
An engineering graduate from Kasu village in Raigad, Patil has been raising concerns about the Mumbai&ndash;Goa highway project since 2019. Over the years, he has contacted authorities through emails, phone calls and social media, flagging safety lapses and unfinished work. His earlier efforts led to quick repairs at several locations.
During the recent walk, Patil identified 59 critical hazard points and prepared a detailed digital report supported by photographs, GPS data and QR codes. He noted that nearly 75 to 85 km of work, including service roads and bridge sections, remains incomplete, posing serious risks to motorists.
Patil also collected debris such as iron scraps, broken glass and damaged hoardings from the highway, stating that these materials frequently cause accidents and tyre punctures. Throughout the journey, he interacted with residents and political leaders, sharing his findings with MLAs and district representatives to push for accountability and urgent repairs.

15 दिसंबर 2025 | 11:44 IST

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