50% of NH4A stretch to have reduced width

50% of NH4A stretch to have reduced width
SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM, NOV 12 
It’s final! Almost 50 per cent stretch on the NH4A will now have a reduced width.
The proposed widening of 62 kms, which has faced severe criticism from various quarters, will have a reduced width on 29.63 kilometers length, between Panjim and Anmod.
The reduction will be of 30, 35 or 45 metres while the rest will remain at 60 metres, according to the new alignment proposal submitted by the government-appointed committee.
Facing severe criticism over the number of demolitions, the State had appointed a high-level committee, which included the legislators, PWD engineers, NHAI officials and the land survey officials.
The committee submitted its report to the government, which brought down the number of demolitions to 136 from a staggering 569.
According to the statistical report submitted by the committee, a copy of which is in possession of Herald, the width has been reduced in thickly-populated places.
The committee has kept untouched the 30 metres width at the ghat section due to the Ministry of Forest and Environment directives. The total 15 mts ghat section would remain of 30 mts width.
Further, the width has been reduced to 45 metres in Mollem, Sangod (Sanvordem), Dharbandora, Piliem, Usgao, Khandepar, Ponda, Bandora, Ella and Chimbel.
A total of 11.61 km stretch would be of 45 metres width while some places in Corlim and Ella will have a stretch of 35 metres width.
Interestingly, the committee has proposed just one toll plaza – which has been a bone of contention. The only toll will be at Boma, where a bypass has been proposed due to dense population.
Initially, the NHAI consultants Wilbur Smith Associates had proposed toll plazas at every 20 kms.
Demolitions: The committee has brought down the demolitions by approximately 76 per cent.
While there were 41 structures facing demolition in Mollem, the committee has brought it down to 23. These 23 structures include 19 structures, which are on Revenue Department land.
A total of 79 structures would now face demolitions as against 147 earlier in the Sanvordem constituency.
All 41 structures have been saved by the committee, which has proposed a bypass in the area while the demolitions have been brought down to only 2 in Khandepar from 41.
According to new alignment, only eight structures would be demolished in Curti and Ponda as against 46 proposed earlier.
There would be a sigh of relief for residents of Bandora and Kundaim where the demolitions have been brought down to 3 and zero from earlier figures of 43 and 19 respectively.
Of 79, only four structures would now face demolitions in Boma while Priol and Veling will lose 9 structures as against 34 earlier. All eight structures, which faced demolition in Adcolna have been saved.
In Cumbharjua, the demolitions have been brought down to 30 from 122, while only one will face axe in Chimbel as against 9 earlier.