Four-wheelers, light motor vehicles should be extempted from paying toll in Maharashtra: Wadettiwar

Vijay Wadettiwar. File Pic

Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Friday said the Maharashtra government should take a decision on exempting four-wheelers and light motor vehicles from paying toll tax in the state, reported the PTI.

The leader of opposition in Maharashtra assembly made this demand days after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray warned the state government that his party workers would set toll booths on fire in the state if they are stopped from ensuring that small vehicles are exempted from paying toll charges.

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Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Vijay Wadettiwar said, "Deputy chief minister (Devendra Fadnavis) has very clearly said that the government does not charge toll fees from four-wheelers and light motor vehicles. Now, they (government) should implement it properly, because the toll is being collected at the toll booths at present," as per the PTI.

"Toll for four-wheelers and light vehicles should be exempted at all toll booths across Maharashtra," he said.

Earlier, Wadettiwar, while speaking to reporters had said, "The stand taken by MNS chief Raj Thackeray is apt. I extend my support to his proposed agitation. We would also like to know how the amount collected at the toll booths is utilised."

Vijay Wadettiwar also slammed the Eknath Shinde-led dispensation, claiming that it was recruiting staff in agriculture, health, revenue and police departments on a contract basis.

"What will the candidates do after the contract period ends? The recruitment for important posts in government departments was never done in this manner in the past," he said, adding that the youth in the state would pull this government down.

"I want to assure the youth in the state that if we (Maha Vikas Aghadi) come to power again, then the government will cancel all the contractual appointments and recruit the staff directly," the Congress leader said.

India ranked 111th out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index-2023, which was rejected by the Union government as erroneous and having mala fide intent.

When asked about it, Vijay Wadettiwar said the prime minister announcing free ration to 80 crore people itself shows whether poverty has increased or decreased.

(with PTI inputs)