In a memorandum, the Varkari Sampraday, Grahak Panchayat and Krantivir Prathisthan among others, alleged under reporting, especially of vehicle traffic and toll collected so far, by the toll collection agencies across the state
Commuters, farmers and Varkaris (devotees who make walking pilgrimages) had appealed the Maharashtra chief minister (CM) to take immediate and corrective steps to stop the rampant looting done under the guise of toll collection on various roads across the state. In a memorandum, the Varkari Sampraday, Grahak Panchayat and Krantivir Prathisthan among others, alleged under reporting, especially of vehicle traffic and toll collected so far, by the toll collection agencies across Maharashtra.
The memorandum says that as per information provided by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), during 2000 to 2011, contractors for the toll collection have already recovered the cost for 39 toll booths and the percentage of toll collection to cost is around 243.4%. On an average, the ratio for toll collected so far comes is in the range of 150% and 600% for each toll booth in just in four to seven years and according to the tender documents, the contractors will continue to collect the toll tax for another 14 to 22 years.
On Monday, Maharashtra PWD minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar informed the state assembly that even though the government had recovered Rs1,205 crore out of the Rs1,242 crore it spent on building flyovers and bridges in Mumbai, citizens would have to pay toll tax at the entry and exit points of the metro till September 2027. Similarly, for the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which was built at a cost of Rs2,123 crore by the MSRDC, contractors have recovered Rs1,095 so far and will continue to collect toll tax till 30 April 2030, the minister informed the assembly.
The minister was replying to allegations from the opposition parties about the massive corruption in toll collection at roads in Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts. Eknath Khadse (BJP), leader of opposition, said the corruption figure could be pegged at around Rs10,000 crore and demanded a probe by a high-power committee.
According to the memorandum sent by the Varkari Sampraday, Grahak Panchayat and Krantivir Prathisthan, majority of the toll booths in Maharashtra are in bad condition and are without any sign boards, complaint book and at many places a computerised receipt is issued without mentioning the amount.
Incidentally, all toll booths in Maharashtra have unanimously hiked the toll rates through a notification issued on 17 March 2011, however, the toll collection period remained same. In addition, the contractors are often found to follow government guidelines, especially for returning vehicles. According to the guidelines, the contractor is bound to give 50% concession in toll tax to a vehicle that is returning to the same booth within 24 hours. However, all contractors make 12 midnight as the deadline for the mandated 24-hour period. Therefore a vehicle, which may enter to toll booth at 10pm and return at 1am the same night, is denied the concession by all contractors.
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also further near \kolhapur one has to pay 2 times rs 58/-!! distance between the toll booth is less than 50 km. i do not understand the logic. cost of toll is equivalent to one person bus ticket.
it is daylight robbery.
for pune mumbai , there is no return toll ie one has to pay the toll 2 times.