Maharashtra government set to waive toll for Thane, Navi Mumbai motorists

Less than a fortnight after waiving off tolls for light vehicles at all toll plazas in the state on June 1 -- including the one at Kharghar on Sion-Panvel road -- the state government is now set to discontinue collection of tolls from Thane and Navi Mumbai motorists even at the five entry points to the city.

A proposal is being prepared for the state cabinet's approval to waive toll for cars bearing registration numbers MH-04, MH-43 and MH-46, from Thane, Navi Mumbai and Panvel, respectively.

The proposal, when passed, says a Mantralaya source, is expected to come into effect on August 1, 2015, in keeping with the state government's plan to make all roads toll-free for car owners in the metropolitan region.

However, there is no clarity on whether vehicles registered in Mumbai (MH-01, MH-02 and MH-03) will also be exempt at the five entry points to the city at Airoli, Vashi, Thane, Mulund and Dahisar. Levying of toll will continue on the Mumbai-Pune highway.

The news comes as a huge relief to thousands of motorists from Thane and Navi Mumbai, who have to either pay a daily two-way toll of Rs70 or Rs 1,400 for a multi-entry monthly pass.

"We have been paying the toll for years and waiving off the toll will not only save us money but precious time lost in the toll plaza queue," said CBD resident Gopal Das.

The contract for collecting toll at all the five entry points has been awarded by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to Mumbai Entry Point Limited (MEPL).

Jayant Mhaiskar, Managing Director, MEPL said: "The government is already locked in litigation with another toll contractor on the Sion- Panvel road and the courts have come down heavily on the government for its arbitrary and populist ways."

Though Mhaiskar has not received any formal communication about the new waiver, he says even if the government goes ahead with the plan, it would have to shell out the concession amount directly to his company, as per the agreement. MEPL collects about Rs250 crore annually from the five entry points, bulk of it from cars and light vehicles.

Meanwhile, a section of people feel that the splurging of public funds to subsidise rich car owners is an ill-advised move. "Instead of using the money for bettering the life of the common man, the government is wasting it to ease the burden on rich car owners," said Vashi-based activist Ajay Patil, adding that the same amount could be diverted to subsidise bus transport between Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mumbai.