Goa: NHAI proposes 2 toll booths on NH 4A

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed a minimum toll of Rs 23 for four wheelers travelling from Panaji to Ponda after the completion of the four laning of the NH 4A. During a presentation on Saturday evening on re-survey of the proposed alignment for broadening of the NH 4A, Mr Kiran of Wilbur and Smith Associates, a consultancy firm hired by NHAI, said there would be two toll booths, one at Banastarim and the other at Mollem. He said that the two wheelers will not be charged any toll. Cars will have to pay a minimum of Rs 23 when crossing the Banastarim toll booth while the toll charge for light commercial vehicles will be Rs 38. Buses will be charged Rs 79 while medium commercial vehicles will be charged Rs 124 and heavy commercial vehicles would have to pay a toll of Rs 150.

Similarly, the four wheelers crossing the second toll booth at Mollem will have to shell out Rs 25 while light commercial vehicles will have to pay Rs 42. Buses crossing this toll booth would be charged Rs 87, medium commercial vehicles would be charged Rs 137 and heavy commercial vehicles will have to shell out Rs 160.

Mr Kiran further said that there would be a provision wherein locals with personal vehicles within a radius of 10 km from the booth could pay Rs 150 per month at a single toll booth and could travel without any restrictions on the number of times they cross that booth. He also said that special provisions have been made on return journey.

Mr Kiran said after the re-survey, the right of way will be 60 metres at open places and 45 metres where commercial establishments and houses are located on the highway and 35 metres at the heritage site at Old Goa. He said that 168 structures could face demolition as against 569 in the previous alignment and added that there would be two major bridges, one at Khandepar and another at Banastarim, and five other minor bridges. Mr Kiran informed that 132 hectares of land is yet to be acquired of the total 232 hectares of land required for the four laning of the NH 4A, which has been reduced by four kilometers after the fresh realignment.