TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The state government’s plan of charging toll for vehicles registered outside but entering Goa to use its highways, districts and village roads and bridges is likely to be effective within the next 15 days.
The Public Works Department which will implement the plan will set up around six toll booths, four of which will be located at major entry points at Keri, Mollem, Pollem and Dhargal. Two smaller toll collection booths are proposed to be set up at Dodamarg and Satarda bridge, according to information provided by the department.
The government had issued a notification about its proposal to levy entry toll in January. The move is expected to pool in a whopping Rs 50 crore annually.
The check posts toll collection booths are slated to be fully computerised and functional round the clock with PWD recruited personnel working on three shifts. “There will be three people on duty at a time,” disclosed PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar.
The PWD proposes to recruit staff from its society. If the process for setting up toll booths for computerised ticketing and recruiting of staff is completed within the next few days, it is likely the toll collection will start within the next 15 days.
As per the notification issued in January, four wheelers including cars, jeep, pick up vans will have to pay Rs 250, six wheelers (and above) such as buses and trucks will have to pay Rs 500 while rickshaws will have to pay Rs 100 for usage of roads.
The notification also slates that other heavy vehicles such as mobile cranes, bulldozers, earthmovers, road rollers will have to pay Rs 1000.
While there has been some criticism to the toll proposal, the commissioning of the collection system comes at a time when the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa in its pre-budget memorandum to the government also mooted the imposition of a high entry tax on tourist buses, tempos and vehicles with 10 seats or more that come into Goa without confirmed hotel bookings. “They should be charged for parking of these buses by allotting them a certain area They do not contribute any revenue to the state but are a stress on our infrastructure. Such fees should be at least Rs 500 per person in the peak season and whenever there are long holidays and festivals,” states the memorandum submitted to the chief minister on Monday. The government believes this toll collection at entry points will not effect tourism in any way.
