The land acquisition process for the ambitious national highway expansion project in Goa has hit a roadblock with the state government facing intense opposition to the widening of NH4-A and NH-17 passing through the tourist destination.

The need for land acquisition bordering the existing highways and possible demolition of several houses for building it, has kicked off a major row in the state.

After modifying its decision several times on width of the road, to be acquired, the state government has now finally put on hold the land acquisition process till further orders.

The revenue department, this week, issued orders to keep on hold the land acquisition process for this centrally-funded project. The expansion plan also has on cards construction of several new bridges and revamping road infrastructure in Goa.

Goa, which receives tourists, almost twice its population of 14 lakh, has been facing many infrastructural issues including congested roads.

Chief Minister Digamber Kamat in a press conference had announced recently that the state will go for 45-metres road width in non-populated areas while the width would be restricted to 35-metres in densely populated localities.

This decision, according to him, was taken to protect several structures from being razed down to make way for the highway.

India's smallest state spread over around 3,000 sq kms of land has almost half of its area as forest land. Back in 1990s the cheap real estate prices had attracted many to this beach heaven, resulting in an increased migration rate.

As per a rough estimate, almost 16 people migrated to this state every day over last decade. The poor economic conditions in few states and requirement of unskilled labourers here also propelled migration.

Now, with too many people to cater, and roads designed for the population pre-liberation era, the state government is forced to relook at its highways.

But the fear of losing shelter looms large over the population, which has raised apprehensions over widening of these highways.

"We have organised public meetings to lobby against government's current plan of the highway expansion," Sunil Desai, a member on the Diversion NH4-A Action Committee, told PTI.

The committee estimates that with the current realignment plan, state will have to demolish 541 major structures.

They said that these dwellings includes houses of poor and also those from middle class families who have managed to get a roof over their head by borrowing loans.

"Government will have to face a loss of Rs 1250 crores.

An expansion will make lives of many unstable and also affect the business community," Desai said.

The NH4-A highway expansion is also facing a major hurdle at its tail end on Goa-Karnataka border.

"Almost 11 kms of highway runs through Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife sanctuary and the state Wildlife Board has expressed its reservation over the project," Dr Shashi Kumar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said.

He said that the Wildlife Board which met on Wednesday has decided not to give its consent to highway expansion till all the relevant papers are studied.