Additional money demand for e-toll system irks motorists

THANE: City-based motorists feel they are been hoodwinked by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and Mumbai Entry Point Limited (MEPL), the toll collecting agency.
Eight to 10 months after they shelled out Rs 100 to purchase an e-sticker, motorists using the Mulund check naka on Eastern Express Highway are again being asked to shell out an extra Rs 60 to buy e-stickers for the proposed electronic toll collection system.
“How can MEPL or MSRDC ask motorists to shell out Rs 60 extra when there is no sign of the electronic toll collection system being implemented anytime soon? I have already paid Rs 100 earlier for the system. The MEPL should refund Rs 100 before charging the additional Rs 60,” said R Ramesh, a resident of Vasant Vihar.
The issue arose about eight to 10 months ago when MSRDC through MEPL introduced e-sticker for clearing vehicles at the toll naka. Aimed at avoiding traffic jams at the naka, lakhs of motorists willingly shelled out Rs 100 to buy the sticker from the toll company in addition to paying the monthly toll. A few days later, the e-sticker system was stopped by MEPL citing “technical issues”.
Angry at the demand for money, Ramesh spoke to MEPL’s manager in Mulund who claimed that Rs 60 was only a deposit.
Despite sending an email and repeated attempts to talk to Jayant Mhaiskar, managing director of MEPL, the company hasn’t responded.
A person who answered MSRDC vice-chairman Anil Diggikar’s mobile phone said Diggikar was out of town and will return on Saturday. Joint managing director S M Ramchandani is out of the country.