In early January, I embarked on a road trip to Goa, departing on the 3rd and returning on the 10th. This journey sparked the idea for this post as I sought feedback on the most efficient routes and how best to navigate them. On our way there, we opted for the Atal Setu route for Mumbai exit because we planned a stopover in Pune. If you check Google Maps from Pune, there’s a route through Anuskura Ghat that connects to State Highway 111, landing just before Kudal. Although this route is longer, it's the best I've traveled from Pune onwards. For anyone in Pune seeking a good road, albeit longer, I recommend taking this path which Google Maps will highlight currently. If it reroutes ( some links Add these locations as stops in Google Maps to avoid automation rerouting: McDonald's Karad: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kyKRzaPxdnXej... Pachal Kolhapur Phata: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qd1vwNhZeqYzWG257 ) Check this video out as well:
On our return, despite Google's alternative suggestions, I decided to take the old NH66. I left Goa at about 6:20 am and arrived in Bandra by around 5 pm. Factoring in three breaks, totaling about one and a half hours, I managed to complete the drive in roughly ten hours—possibly the fastest I've experienced. The road offers a good balance of speed and safety. From Goa all the way towards Lanja ( approx 200 Km from South Goa), roadwork seems mostly complete, yet as you get closer to Lanja, road conditions worsen with ongoing construction. Some sections of the road nearly vanish, making it quite a tricky drive, often leaving things a bit messy.
The downside of NH66, despite claims of being a freeway, is the lack of bypasses around towns like Mangaon and other villages. The road gets progressively more cumbersome with nonexistent bypasses clearly diminishing the driving experience. It’s not advisable for anyone in a small car or with fragile suspensions, given the rough stretches. The good part is that the Kashedi Tunnel is now open which means you dont need to go through the treacherous ghat and bad roads ( 10 mins via tunnel vs 45/60 mins via the mountainous road)
You can head to Mumbai Via Vashi, an alternative is to turn off towards JNPT, where you can loop back to Atal Setu, leading you back into Mumbai. For those open to longer routes, this might be worth considering, but be wary of road conditions along the way.
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