Permission for check posts on Highway

To

The Highway Authority,

Subject: Request permission for the establishment of checkpoints on the project highway.

The Mines & Geology Department has issued a letter of award for a seigniorage collection contract to XXXX Limited via letter no. XXXX. The LOA copy is herewith attached for your ready reference.

According to our (the applicant’s) field study, certain checkpoints are located between km. 10.000 and km. 11.600 of the project highway. Those checkpoints are extremely important for regulating mineral movement and detecting illegal mineral transport.

Therefore, we kindly request your permission to establish those check-posts at a suitable offset distance at a specified location in the above-mentioned chains as soon as possible.

Thanking you.

[Yours,]

[Insert the name of the authorized person].

The Highway Authority,

Subject: Project Inspection for Permission to Establish Checkpoints; Remarks and Recommendations. 

Dear Sir,

In relation to the previously mentioned subject matter and reference, we have jointly reviewed and inspected the site with the concessionaire and the applicant on XX/04/2024. Based on the above representation, we have provided observations and recommendations.

1. The MINES & GEOLOGY Dept., Govt. of XXXXX, awarded seigniorage collection upon minerals and mining material in the jurisdiction of the XXXXX district to M/s XXXX Ltd.
2. After a discussion with the applicant during the joint site inspection, we learned that the applicant intends to erect check posts between Chainage km. 10.000 and km. 11.600, one on each side of the stated location, for the purpose of controlling the movement of mining material and collecting seigniorage charges.
3. We observed the ground locations for these check posts at Ch. 10+450 LHS and Ch. 11+400 RHS, respectively.

Ground Observations on Request Permission for Check Posts in the Highway Letter

The requested locations were inspected jointly. The following observations were made:

The LHS transitions from Ch. 10/350 to Ch. 10/600.

• The requirement for stop-and-go movements on the running highway is the primary factor in weighing the ground situation.
• There was an upgrade at this location.
• The aforementioned location is 50 meters from a narrow bridge, which is at km 10.500.

The RHS transitions from Ch. 11/350 to Ch. 111/550.

• The requirements of stop-and-go movements on the running highway primarily weigh the ground situation.
• This location underwent a downgrade.
• The adjacent building lane measures 19 meters from the median center, where the ROW is available.

The Representation

• It intends to erect porta cabins of size 4*3 meters, as briefed by the applicant, along with lighting and surveillance facilities for watch and ward operations. We make the suspicious vehicles stand, verify their credentials, pay the necessary challan, and then allow them to leave.

Observations regarding the request for permission to install check posts in the Highway letter: Independent Engineer Recommendations

The concession agreement contains contractual conditions regarding the erection of barriers on the project highway. Clause 17.14 of the Concession Agreement stipulates that the government must ensure that no government instrument erects or places barriers on the project highway during the Operation Period, except in cases of emergency, national security, law and order, or inter-state tax collection. The government must also strive to prevent any government instrument from diverting traffic from or closing down approach roads to the project highway, unless necessary for emergency, national security, or law and order, as this could significantly disrupt the flow of traffic to and from the project highway.

• As per the above-mentioned clause, except for reasons of emergency, national security, law and order, or any diversions of traffic from or closing down of approach roads to the project highway, it is not feasible to establish checkpoints as requested by a private agency on the project road.
• Moreover, the provision of checkpoints on the project road for watch and ward, the stoppage of vehicles, and the issuance of challans as necessary may lead to traffic congestion and an increase in accident proneness on the project highway.

Conclusion

In light of the above, it is not recommended to establish the check posts as requested by the applicant or M/s XXXXX Limited.

This is for your kind information. Please take the necessary further action.

Thank you, and we will always provide the best service.