Panaji: The ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) has initiated the acquisition of 8,863sqm of private land at Bhoma and Kundaim villages of Ponda taluka for the proposed four-laning of the Bhoma-Old Goa stretch of NH 748 under the hybrid annuity mode.In a notification issued on June 12, road transport and highways director Shaikh Aminkhan said Centre has determined that the land is required for the highway expansion project and has invoked provisions of Section 3A(1) of the National Highways Act, 1956.The acquisition proposal covers 42 privately owned wetland plots spread across the two villages — 30 plots at Bhoma and 12 at Kundaim. The largest parcel identified for acquisition is Survey No. 42/3 (Part) at Bhoma, measuring 1,790sqm (0.18 hectares).Landowners and other interested parties have been given 21 days from the date of publication of the notification to file objections to the proposed acquisition. Objections must be submitted in writing to the special land acquisition officer, PWD-National Highways, Altinho.The notification marks a key step in the widening of the Bhoma-Old Goa section of NH 748, a project aimed at improving traffic flow and connectivity along the corridor.
