Govt goes high on highway

April 30, 2008

At last, the confusion whether the tiny State of Goa will have a six or the four lanes on National Highway 17, looks to have been solved by the announcement of Public Works Department minister Churchill Alemao, after an all party meeting yesterday, that the State would prefer a 4-lane due to the land constraints. But will the project see the light of the day considering that Goa government is biding for it?
There seems to be more than one technical snag in the decision reached by all parties to go in for a four lane highway on BOOT basis (built, own, operate and transfer basis).
First, the National Highways Authority has almost completed the formalities on the project and according to the NHAI website the works on the project — four laning of NH17 from Patradevi to Polem – a 139 km stretch, is due for tendering soon after the consultant submits the report.
Another issue that meets the eye is when the Centre is all set to tender the work why the hurry in taking up the project on its own by Goa government?
Secondly, the NHAI says that the estimated cost of the entire stretch including the five bridges at Colvale, Mandovi, Zuari, Talpona and Galgibaba will cost around 906.28 crores approximately.
Moreover, our PWD minister thinks otherwise and says the projects will cross a cost of Rs 2000 crore “as the cement and the steel prices have gone up.” Even then should the estimated cost become double?
The NHAI is a competent authority and has taken up number of such projects but PWD minister wants to prove them wrong. Is it just a mistake or there is something more to the tale?
Herald understands that the estimated cost drawn a few days ago by the PWD ministry here is also around Rs 1300 crores, taking into consideration the cost escalation.
Govt goes high on highway
The consultant appointed by NHAI for Goa National Highways has already submitted the report on four laning of NH 4(A) from Panjim to Anmod and is expected to complete the report on the NH-17 in near future.
The other announcement that the toll will not be charged to State registered vehicles may please the Goans, but the question is whether toll collection of non-Goa registration vehicles would suffice to recover the huge cost that would be incurred by the contractor?
The answer of non-Goa registration vehicles will be only 1,000 to 2000 at the most, sources say. How then the government expects the contractor to maintain the road at its best? Will any contractor come up to take up work with such conditions? is a big question.
The toll rates charged presently by the NHAI is – car or jeep or van Rs 0.40 per km; light commercial vehicles – Rs. 0.70 per km; truck or bus Rs 1.40 per km and heavy construction machinery and earthmoving equipment – Rs 3 per km.
source: www.oheraldo.in