PANJIM, AUG 11
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Wednesday announced that the government has decided to keep the widening of the national highways to 45 metres wherever possible and restrict it to 35 metres in densely populated areas.
Addressing a press conference, after chairing the House Committee meeting which was attended by ministers and legislators as well as Leader of the Opposition, Manohar Parrikar, Kamat stated that the legislators at the meeting raised their views and objections on the project.
“The committee has decided to constitute a team comprising of engineers from PWD, NHAI, land survey officers and the land acquisition officers who will resurvey the proposed alignment for both the national highways (NH17 & NH4A) in consultation with the legislators concerned,” he stated.
The team will also focus on the areas where demolitions are proposed and submit its report within 20 days, he stated.
The chief minister continued, “The committee has decided to retain the right of way to 45 metres wherever possible and restrict it to 35 metres in the densely populated areas to minimise demolitions.”
Further, Kamat said, “there were apprehensions on the toll that would be charged for the road users. We have decided to appoint a separate team comprising of engineer from NHAI, PWD and personnel from Finance department as well as the Department of PPP, which will study the rates proposed by the NHAI.”
“This team will examine how the interest of the local road users could be protected,” he stated.
Kamat said that upon receiving the reports from both the teams, the government will take up the issue with the Union Ministry for Road and Surface Transport.
“The Union Minister spoke to me and asked to find out a solution to the matter at the earliest,” he stated.
When pointed out that the land acquisition process for the project has already begun the chief minister replied “until a final decision is taken, the land acquisition will be put on hold.”
Kamat also clarified that there was panic caused due to the notification by land acquisition officer for the project.
“The notice said that the 60-metre width would be acquired which created panic amongst citizens. This was wrong and the land to be acquired is total of 45 metres width,” he stated.
