CANACONA/POINGUINIM: While other border toll plazas began collecting the entry tax on outstation vehicles entering Goa on Monday, the entry tax at the Pollem border is expected to begin from Tuesday onwards.
The delay took place as workers were toiling at the site to install the ‘Sensor Gate’, which automatically blocks a vehicle and allows it to move ahead only on payment of the entry tax. A gate which works in synchronization with the cash collecting system/machine is being installed at Shellim Entry Fees Booth, informed PWD sources at the venue.
While the entry fees Collection Booth failed to commence operations till late Monday evening, there are claims that over 300 mock receipts were issued to outstation vehicles entering the state from the Polem border on Sunday.
According to sources, receipts without cash transactions were issued to outstation vehicles on a trail basis to familiarize the staff in dealing with outstation vehicles in a timely manner.
Anticipating that the government would commence its entry tax on non-Goan vehicles at the stroke of midnight, a number of scribes camped at the toll plaza at Shelli-Pollem, which is over 2 kms from the state’s border on Sunday night.
However, their efforts went in vain as there was no activity at the toll plaza till well past midnight.
Meanwhile, residents in the area have claimed that the Rumblers/Speed-breakers have been illegally installed at the Toll Collection Booth at Shelli without a proper notification from the collector.
A resident from Loliem has now sought information under the RTI Act over recent developments by the state government in connection with the collection of fees. The resident has also sought information from the South Goa Collector and the PWD on whether a government notification was issued regarding the installation of speed breakers.
