NHAI gives way, to trim NH4A
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 15
In a major development, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) finally bowing to the demands of the State, has decided to reduce the width of NH4A from 60 to 45 meters wherever required.
The NHAI team led by the chairman Brijeshwar Singh and member Ashok Patil was on a brief visit to Goa particularly on the issue of widening of NH4A – Panjim to Karnataka border.
The team held a meeting with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and other PWD officials.
Addressing a press conference at his official residence, the PWD minister said that the Centre has finally heard the grievances of the people of Goa.
“The NHAI team which visited today said that they had got instructions from the Minister of Road and Surface Transport Kamal Nath not to go ahead with the project against the wishes of the State,” Churchill, who had recently written to the minister to reduce the width, said.
Alemao said, “the NHAI has decided to reduce the width of the widening to 45 meters in thickly populated areas and maintain the width at 60 meters wherever there are open spaces.”
“This will reduce the number of demolitions of the structures,” he said.
He said, “In Bhoma which faces maximum demolition as per original alignment, the NHAI has decided to carry out realignment to save the structures.”
Churchill said after reduction of the width the State has 80 per cent of land in possession for the project.
“Only 12 kms at Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary comes under forest area for which we will need to take clearances from the Forest Ministry,” he said.
“Since the work has already been tendered, the work on
