Ahead of polls, toll waived for LMVs at Mumbai entry points

MUMBAI: Days ahead of the announcement of the assembly poll schedule, CM Eknath Shinde's cabinet Monday decided to permanently waive toll for LMVs as well as state transport and school buses at the city's five entry points - Vashi, Dahisar, Airoli, and LBS Marg and Eastern Express Highway in Mulund.

"The loss due to the waiver (to come into force from Monday midnight) in the next two years will be around Rs 800 crore, which will be paid upfront to the contractor by govt. There is also an option to extend the toll period for heavy vehicles to compensate for the loss to the contractor," said sources.

While LMVs will no longer have to pay the Rs 45 toll, commercial vehicles will continue to pay as per the existing rates, sources said.

"It was a long pending demand... Many activists, including I, had approached court demanding the same. Just like we implemented Ladki Bahin and Ladka Bhau, now we have implemented Ladke commuters' scheme. It is a masterstroke," said Shinde. He dismissed opposition's charge that the decision was taken with an eye on the polls.

Over 3.5 lakh vehicles cross the five toll booths every day. MSRDC had set up the five booths to recover the construction cost of 55 flyovers. In 1999, tenders were issued and by 2002, all five toll booths were operational. In 2010, the toll collection contract was awarded to MEP Infrastructure against the maintenance of around 22 flyovers, a few bridges, subways, and road stretches, for which it paid state govt Rs 2,100 crore upfront. The contract was to end in 2026-27. Last year, the contract was extended till 2027 due to losses incurred during the Covid lockdown.

(With Inputs from Somit Sen & PTI)

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