Goa toll fee concession to Maharashtra, Karnataka vehicles

Panaji, July 19: Goa government has decided to issue concession passes to incoming vehicles from neighbouring districts, but those from other states will have to pay the full entry toll fee, a state minister said today.

Monthly and yearly passes would be given to the vehicles registered in the neighbouring districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, state Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar told reporters.

The department is in the process of preparing the proposal after the state government asked it to do so. The tariff with concession in the entry toll fee would be notified next week, he said.

Vehicles carrying cargo from Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, (in Maharashtra) and Karwar and Belgaum (Karnataka) would be entitled to concession, depending on how frequently they visit the state, the minister said.

The imposition of entry toll fee had met with stringent opposition from the transporters from neighbouring states. The fee was levied in April by the state government, which claimed that the money collected would be used to upgrade the road infrastructure in Goa.

"The revenue earned by the state government would be utilised to make better roads," Dhavalikar said, adding that the stretch between Anmodh ghat (near Karnataka border) to Ponda, a town in Goa, would be expanded for better traffic movement, at the cost of Rs 15 crore.

The state will also take up 139-km road upgradation under Prime Minister's Sadak Yojna, he added.

PTI