Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SP)

Panaji, Jul 16: Union Minister of State for road transport and highways, R P N Singh, informed Shantaram Naik, MP from the state in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday July 15 in a  written reply, that the total length of national highway 17 in Goa that has been brought under the proposed  expansion and upgradation project from Patradevi to Polem in Goa, is 122.87 kms. He added, that the project involves five major bridges, 22 minor bridges, 2 proposed ROBs (flyovers), including a new bridge on Zuari river and two new bridges across Talpona and Galzibag rivers and another bridge across Siridao river.

The minister said that the pre-qualification of bidders has been completed and bids will be invited after obtaining clearance from Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC), for which a proposal has already been submitted, and that the cost of the project is Rs 2,078 crore.

Under the procedure, bids are invited from pre-qualified bidders. For this project, five bidders have been pre-qualified and are eligible to bid, the minister explained.

On the question of the total number of tolls payable in the national highways all over the country, Singh replied that the user fee/toll tax was being collected at 129 plazas on specific sections of 26 national highways, as on 31.03.2009 and that the toll is being collected at 6,434 km of fully completed road section, as on 31.03.2009.

The minister further informed that 3,476.31 kms length of national highways has been completed only partially in stretches and hence these stretches have not yet been brought under the toll collection.

The minister said that completion of tollable section in all respects, including safety measures like lane marking, signage, guard rails etc. and issue of 'take over' certificate are the pre-requisites for the commencement of tolling within 30 days from the date of completion of tollable section or issue of takeover certificate, whichever is later.