NH: claim of 60 meter road width big lie, says Parrikar

PANJIM, OCT 28
While the State government is already finding it tough to meet the deadline on the Centre’s threat to withdraw the national highway projects from the state if the land acquisition is delayed, the Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the government is trying to cheat the people through the projects.
The BJP today alleged that the expansion is not carried out as per manual of specification for 4-lanning of National highway under the Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Opposition Leader, Manohar Parrikar while addressing a press conference alleged that the Government is trying to cheat people by claiming that the width of 60 mts is required for expansion.
“The claim that 60 mts width is required is a big lie,” Parrikar said adding “the manual doesn’t warrant width of the road 60 mts and at the most it can be 30 mts.”
Citing the manual, he said, the maximum width of the alignment including service lanes wherever required in urban sections ranges from 29 mts to 43.40 meters, respectively.
Maintaining that Goa can do with expansion of roads as done on Panjim–Mapusa highway, he said, BJP will not allow this project to be converted into another Common Wealth Games.
Parrikar has also raised questions about sustainability of the project.
“If the government is to be believed locals will be discounted from paying toll charges. But how will the project sustain which has been proposed to be build on PPP mode,” he asked.
Referring to the statement of Union Minister Kamal Nath during his Goa visit two days ago, Parrikar the minister should come clean as what will be quantum Centre’s contribution to the project. 
How much the government is spending on land acquisition in reference to the minister’s statement that Goa will lose funds if the project is delayed.
TOLL CHARGES: According to Parrikar a person using a car to commute regularly through Ponda-Panjim highway will need to shell out Rs 2100 as toll chares every month.   
He stated that he has confirmed the rates with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
LAND ACQUISITION POLICY: The BJP has demanded that the government should come out with a proper land acquisition policy.  
Claiming that the government has been paying pittance while acquiring agriculture land for commercial use, he   said, the government should come out with land acquisition policy.
He  said,  States  like  such  as Haryana  pay Rs 1500 per  sq mt but Goa  government only pay 40-50 paise  per  sq mt.
HOUSE COMMITTEE: Parrikar also questioned why the government did not convene even one meeting of the House Committee (HC) even as it was formed to work out solution to problems raised by the people that are likely to be affected    expansion of highways.