TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: There is no clarity on how the entry fee for Goa registered vehicles will affect commercial vehicles that ply to villages between toll booths and borders.
All Goa Bus Owners Association General Secretary Sudip Tamankar has alleged that the installation of a toll booth two years ago, much within the state’s border was intentionally done so as to charge entry fees from Goan vehicles.
He said there are several villages located at the state borders and to cater to those villages private bus operators in Goa have started services to these villages. He alleged that if the government goes ahead with the entry fees, then private buses that need to cross the toll booth but not cross the state border will have to pay entry fees.
The government has not yet decided how to handle this. When contacted, PWD Chief Engineer D J S Borkar said, “We will look into that later, it has not yet been decided.”
Various villages in north Goa will feel the heat if the government does not exclude them from the entry tax net. Surla in Sattari and Dodamarg, Sal Punarvasan and Sal Kholpewadi besides half of Pernem taluka will be affected.
Surla, which is situated at the distance of 20 kms from the Keri toll booth, has no other route than taking a detour via Karnataka to get to it. The village has approximate 800 residents and is one ward of Thane panchayat.
Beyond the Dodamarg toll booth there are three villages – Dodamarg, Sal Punarvsan and Sal Kholpewadi – that fall in Goa with a total population of 17,000 which will be affected by the imposition of the entry fee.
Dhargalim toll booth, 18 kms within the state boundary, almost dividing Pernem taluka in two parts, will see half of the taluka’s population suffer from the imposition of entry fees. This could lead to chaos at Dhargalim toll booth as residents of more than 20 villages have to cross this booth, including those of Pernem town.
In south Goa, except for Polem toll booth, there is no other that will affect Goans residing on the borders. The Polem booth is 1 km within the border and will affect Goan commercial vehicles going to the village. The stretch of 1 km has around 1000 people residing besides a couple of restaurants and some shops.
Bus operators from north Goa will meet on Friday at Pernem to decide on the issue. South Goa bus operators will also meet in the next few days, South Goa Bus Operators Association President Shailendra Faldesai said.
Rough patch
u Private buses that need to cross the toll booth but not cross the state border will have to pay entry fees.
u Surla in Sattari and Dodamarg, Sal Punarvasan and Sal Kholpewadi besides half of Pernem taluka will be affected.
u Dhargalim toll booth, almost dividing Pernem taluka in two parts, will see half of the taluka’s population suffer
u Polem booth is one km within the border and will affect Goan commercial vehicles going to the village.
