No toll exemption for Ganpati revellers: Maha govt

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Mumbai : After dilly-dallying through the day, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday evening said that there would be no toll exemption for motorists travelling to Konkan region via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway during the upcoming Ganesh festival.

On Monday, Congress MLA Nitesh Rane had threatened an agitation if the government did not waive off the toll on the Expressway between August 26 and Speaking to The Fress Press Journal, Deepak Kesarkar, Minister of State for Home (Rural), said “We cannot waive off the toll on Expressway as a private agency is in-charge of the toll collection. If there is a need to divert traffic via the Expressway, we will request them to give concession to the motorist, and this being an emergency situation, they may oblige.” IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd, has been appointed as the toll collection agency on the 94-km Expressway.

Rane, who represents Kankavali constituency in Sindhudurg district of Konkan, Maharashtra, had earlier written a letter to the state PWD department seeking toll exemption after a bridge collapsed at Mahad on the Mumbai-Goa Highway last month. National Highway-4 and the Expressway are the two roads motorists will take to reach Konkan region. After the collapse of the bridge in Mahad, motorists are forced to use the Expressway, which is a long detour.

When asked if the government plans to formally write to the toll collection agency requesting concession for motorists, Kesarkar, who represents Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district, said, “Our engineers are working on a war footing to repair the Mahad Bridge. But if the traffic department finds that there is a lot of jam on NH-4 we will divert traffic via the Expressway. In that case, we will see if some stickers can be provided.”

During the 10-day festival, a large number of people mainly hailing from Konkan region visit their respective hometowns to celebrate Ganesh festival.