The 10 days of Ganeshotsav are going to be very important for Thanekars as it is on this occasion that they will initiate a massive residents' movement. The residents will kick start their anti-toll campaign 'Stop toll before polls' during this festive season to remind the government to roll back tolls as promised.
This anti-toll campaign will probably be the biggest in Thane as over 3 lakh people from 100 plus housing societies are going to participate in it. "Even people from Mumbai and other areas are also going to join us as toll has taken a toll on everyone in the past so many years," says Kasber Augustine, convenor, Thane Citizens Foundation (TCF), which has over 50 housing societies of Thane under its aegis.
It is a known fact that anybody who wishes to enter Thane, be it from Mumbai, Dombivli, Kalyan or Vashi, have to pay toll at the five toll nakas. These are two nakas at Mulund and one each at Kharegaon, Airoli and Dahisar. At Anandnagar naka and Airoli naka toll fee is Rs35 one way for a vehicle while at other nakas it is lesser.
During Ganeshotsav, TCF will distribute 40,000 stickers with the slogan 'Stop toll before poll' to all the members of housing societies. These stickers will be put up on their cars/vehicles which they use while passing through the toll nakas.
"The BJP had promised us that they would roll back these tolls once voted to power. So, this non-violent campaign is our way of reminding them of their promise," he said.
The members of TCF say that the government has collected money as toll from Thanekars for years together. "When the tolls were levied the number of vehicles was very less. But now their numbers have tripled and the money has been collected is more than enough. It is high time they stop this," said a member who does not wish to be named.
The TCF has taken to social media as well and will be firing on all cylinders to get the desired result. "Over 20,000 people have already joined us on Facebook," said Augustine.
The TCF also plans to go to court on this issue. "Our legal team is already working on it and we will file a case in the Bombay High Court soon," he added.
