CENTRE IS LOOKING INTO PARTIAL TOLL WAIVER: DIGAMBER KAMAT

PANJIM: While the land acquisition officer for NH4A in Goa will start displaying the new alignment plans to the public from Monday, Goa's request for extending the waiver for toll from 20 km radius to 40 km radius is being looked into by the central government, chief minister Digambar Kamat sais on Saturday.

Kamat who returned from Delhi after meeting the NHAI chairman, said the NHAI chairman met him in Delhi to discuss the new alignment plans which were finalized after a joint survey in Goa by the NHAI and the state PWD.

The joint survey report for NH4A clearly shows what are the demolitions for 35 km width, the number of demolitions for 45 km width of road and all other details, Kamat said.

"We had given our suggestions where to restrict the road width to 35 metres, where to go for road diversions and so on. We have submitted this to the NHAI and they have agreed to most of our demands," Kamat said. When asked how many structures would be demolised in the new plans, Kamat said he could not tell the figure off hand but added that in the new plans "everything is clear now. There is no ambiguity.

The land acquisition officer should start displaying the plans to whoever wants to see them from Monday," Kamat said.

When asked about the toll to be levied on the people, Kamat said NHAI has shown him a clause where "local residents are charged at the rate of Rs 150 per month at one toll point." He also said that his government has requested NHAI to extend the waiver of toll payment for the residents of 20 km radius to 40 km radius. Kamat said this would reduce the apprehensions about toll greatly but the decision has to be taken by the central government (TOI)