Believe it or not, but motorists using National Highway 17 B would have to stop at toll plazas to pay toll, as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has prepared a plan to collect toll on the NH 17 B, which will connect Mormugao Port, once the ongoing work on this road is completed.

“Yes, there is a plan to collect toll on this stretch of NH 17 B once this road work is completed, as per government approved rates. There are standard rates approved by the government of India and the same toll rate would be applicable here,” NHAI project Director P S Doddamani said.

He said locals would not face much complication because NHAI would issue passes to them on concessional rates. 

“In fact, locals need not have to worry about the toll because the gazette notification clearly mentions that those living in 20 kilometer radius of the toll plaza would get passes issued by NHAI at concessional rates,” he pointed out.

Sources in the PWD informed Herald that the main reason behind widening of NH17-A, that  connects Cortalim to Chicalim, was to provide broader road to motorists, so that they have an option of using NH17 A road. Motorists who did not want to pay the toll fees could use NH 17 B.

Meanwhile, news about NHAI’s plans to collect toll even from the locals triggered shock and anger amongst the people of Mormugao taluka. 

While strongly opposing the NHAI move, social activists and concerned citizens from the taluka reminded that during last BJP government in the State, leaders had assured the people that no toll would be charged by the NHAI on NH17 B road. 

Now that NHAI has confirmed it plan to on collect toll would be seen as a U-turn on its decision by the BJP.

“It is shocking to hear the news, as we were told that this highway was being constructed to provide benefit to the people of Mormugao taluka. It was initially promised by leaders that there would not be any toll charged, but now we are getting different news. Though we will surely oppose this move it is important to see what the State government would do in order to provide relief to the citizens,” said activist Raje Kiran . 

“The issue is important because this road also leads to Dabolim international airport and hundreds of local taxi drivers from State use the highway for ferrying passengers to and from Dabolim airport and if NHAI erect toll plazas then they would surely collect toll from these commercial vehicles. This issue needs serious and immediate intervention of the State government, before NHAI finalize its stand on collecting toll on NH17 B,” he added.

Supporting locals, the Mormugao Municipal Council too have decided to oppose NHAI’s toll collection proposal. Several MMC councilors including Dhanpal Swami, Yatin Kamurlekar, Saifullah Khan and others also raised objection on NHAI’s proposal of toll collection once the NHA17 B work was completed. 

Speaking on behalf of council members, MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik said “Very shocking news for all of us as we were having no clue about this proposal by NHAI until Herald informed us. We will strongly oppose the decision as NHAI cannot charge toll to locals as this road was built for the benefit of people of port town and to decongest the city. We will raise this issue before the State government aggressively so that NHAI don’t charge toll to locals.

Opposing the decision Panchayat Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho who is also guardian minister for Mormugao taluka said “I will surely work out some mechanism so that locals do not face problems or we will work out some formula where nominal payments will be made by the government to NHAI on yearly basis. The idea will be not to have toll plazas or not to charge locals. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is very cooperative as far as Goa is concerned and I will raise this issue and I am sure he would provide a good solution.”