Mumbai: Toll drama results in joint audit

Seeking a month's time to study and redress MNS President Raj Thackeray's grievances related to toll collection, the Maharashtra government on Friday promised to set up CCTV cameras to keep track of vehicles at the city's five entry points in the next 15 days. The MNS, meanwhile, said it would set up cameras of its own at the toll booths. The state government will also ensure that the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) audits flyovers and underpasses maintained by toll companies.

Speaking at a press conference after Friday's meeting with government officials at his residence, the MNS chief said, "There are certain points in the toll collection contract which are not being followed. In order to get data on the number of vehicles coming in and going out of Mumbai daily from the five toll entry points, the government will be installing cameras and we too will install our cameras."

IN PHOTOS: MNS chief Raj Thackeray meets CM Shinde, discusses toll issue

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Senior minister Dada Bhuse and MNS President Raj Thackeray at the latter's residence in Dadar on Friday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

He added that the government had promised to set up an independent cell regarding tolls at Mantralaya which will have access to the CCTV cameras installed at the toll plaza to count the number of vehicles and that people or motorists who have any complaints regarding the toll or facilities can inform the cell via a number that will be provided by the government. "The government will appoint experts from IIT-B to do a detailed structural audit of all the flyovers, bridges and underpasses that are maintained by toll operators as a part of their contract. In order to take a decision on the toll rates that have been recently increased at Thane, the government will review the same and take a decision within one month," Thackeray said.

He added that at every toll plaza, a yellow line would be painted and if a traffic jam stretched to 200-300 metres before reaching the line, vehicles would not be charged a toll. The government has also said that no vehicle would have to wait at a toll plaza for more than four minutes and the number of police officers and staff would be increased. Thackeray also pointed out that private security guards and bouncers at the toll plazas who sometimes allegedly indulge in tiffs with motorists would be replaced by police officials.

"Sometimes, the toll is deducted from the fast tag twice and in such scenarios, the people can complain about this via a number that the government will provide. Digital boards will be installed on either side of the toll plazas, informing motorists about the cost of the toll collection tender, the number of vehicles passing through the toll plaza on a particular day and the total toll collected every day," the leader said.

He also said that people staying close to the toll plazas will be issued passes as per the toll contract so that they don't have to pay toll charges while crossing the toll multiple times during a short period. Thackeray also said that he would discuss the sorry state of national highways passing through Maharashtra with Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

Minister of Public Works (Public Undertaking) Dada Bhuse (Shinde Sena) Dada Bhuse said that instructions would be displayed at toll plazas to ensure heavy vehicles maintain toll discipline.

"Instructions will also be given to the toll operators concerned that there should be adequate toilets for men and women at toll plazas and these should be hygienic and properly maintained," said Bhuse. Thackeray said his party would also set up two portable container toilets each at the five entry points toll plazas and on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

15
No of days sought to install cameras

5
No of entry points into Mumbai