Big breakthrough ahead of Maharashtra polls

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Mumbai:

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today announced a complete toll exemption for light vehicles at all five toll booths for entry into Mumbai. The toll exemption will come into effect from midnight on Monday, he said.

The move, which comes ahead of legislative elections scheduled for later this year, was announced at the state cabinet meeting in Mumbai.

“The toll charges that we have waived today have been a demand of the people for some time now. This waiver will continue even when the (assembly) elections are concluded,” Shinde said.

Sharing details about the decision, Maharashtra Minister Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse said light vehicles will be exempt from tolls in Dahisar, Anand Nagar, Vaishali, Airoli and Mulund.

All these toll booths were opened in 2002. The government of Maharashtra introduced toll to cover the costs associated with the construction of flyovers in the city.

“Rs 45 to Rs 75 were charged at these tolls and were in force till 2026. Around 3.5 lakh vehicles, including 2.80 lakh light vehicles, used to travel up and down these toll plazas,” Bhuse told reporters .

“The time people spent in queues will be saved. The government discussed this for many months and today this revolutionary decision was taken”, he stated.

Speaking to NDTV, Naresh Mhaske, Shiv Sena MP from Thane, said this was a “long pending” demand.

“Mumbaikars are happy after this decision. I come from Thane district and was sad every time I paid tolls. Now, with free movement, there will be more development in nearby areas,” he said.

The opposition, however, linked the change to the elections.

“You are taking this decision as elections are approaching. You could have stopped the toll earlier but you didn’t,” Shiv Sena spokesperson Anand Dubey (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) said.

He also questioned why heavy vehicles would continue to pay tolls.

“The public will teach him a lesson in the elections,” Dubey said.