Consider Goans on highway toll, CM asks Centre

PANJIM, NOV 14
Quelling the opposition for national highway expansion, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today said he has asked the Union Road Transport Ministry to give special consideration to the State as far as toll for the locals is concerned.
“I have demanded with the Union Ministry that toll within 40-km radius from the toll booth should not be charged for the locals,” Kamat said, adding that if this happens almost 80 per cent of the people will be saved from paying the toll.
The chief minister said that as per highway rules the toll within 20 km radius of the toll booth is exempted.
“But I have demanded that the radius should be extended to 40 kms for Goa,” Kamat said.
Locals have expressed their apprehensions over the exorbitant toll that they will have to shell out once highways are expanded.
National Highway Diversion Action Committee has decided to chalk out an extensive agitation plan from November 22 onwards opposing the current alignment of the highway.
Kamat said that maximum efforts were made to give relief to the locals.
“I have also suggested that monthly pass as low as Rs 150 should be worked out for Goa so that regular travellers need not pay more,” he said.
The chief minister said that he has written a letter to Union Road Transport Ministry listing the suggestions.
“I have even discussed this issue with Union Minister Kamal Nath,” he added.
Kamat said that in his recent visit to Delhi, he held meeting with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials where the joint survey report of the highway expansion was discussed.