Closureof the Goa-Belagavi road via theAnmod Ghathas hamperedexportsand brought containerised exports through Mormugao Port to a standstill, Goa Chamber of Commerce and (GCCI) told Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari.
AGCCIdelegation metGadkariand requested him to open up thisrouteas early as feasible.
GCCI suggested that instead of building a six-lane highway through the Anmod ghat and the protected forest, the Ramnagar-Anmod portion of the highway should be repaired and widened with four lanes. This will increase container volumes and make the movement of containers viable for shipping companies, it said.
It adversely impacts the retail trade by significantly increasing logistic costs. Around 90% of perishable items such as vegetables, fruits, milk, groceries and other food items are brought from Belagavi and surrounding areas to Goa on a daily basis by this road.