Tribune News Service
Mumbai, March 19
Bending to public pressure, the Maharashtra Government has decided to scrap tolling on major roads across the state for private vehicles. State government sources said today that all cars and SUVs, including taxis, would be exempt from paying toll on most roads from the next financial year. Toll will be payable only on a few roads like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the Bandra-Worli Sealink and a few other landmark roads.
To make up for the revenue loss from exempting passenger cars on tolled roads, the government plans to increase the levy on goods carriers, officials said.
Toll collection has been a major issue in the state with activists like Anna Hazare accusing the former Congress-NCP government of indiscriminately awarding road contractors to favoured firms.
In last year’s Assembly elections, the ruling BJP and its ally, the Shiv Sena, had promised to abolish toll collection if elected.
