Mumbai: Ahead of Mharashtra assembly elections, the Maharashtra cabinet gave a surprise to residents of Mumbai and MMR on Monday by scraping toll for all light vehicles at five entry points in Mumbai. The decision will come into effect from 12 am tonight. In his first reaction, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde called the decision a master stroke and said, "After schemes like Ladki bahin, Ladka kisan, Ladka Bhai and this decision is for Ladka Pravisi," Shinde said.
It was a longstanding demand by residents as well as politicians to waive off toll in Mumbai. From tonight, the five toll plazas where light motor vehicles will not have to pay toll money are- Mulund LBS Road, Mulund Eastern Express Highway, Dahisar, Vashi and Airoli.
"It is a historic decision. There used to be long traffic jams at the Mumbai entry points. I am glad during my tenure as the CM, lakhs of light motor vehicles have been exempted from toll. This will save their time, reduce traffic as well as pollution. This is a masterstroke," the Shinde said speaking with the media.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has been demanding scrapping the toll in Mumbai from 2013. The MNS workers have taken to the streets to demanding toll waiver. Thackeray on Monday reacted to the cabinet decision saying, finally the demand is met. He also thanked his supporters and congratulated Mumbaikars.
Ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections, the toll waiver is another major decision taken by the Mahayuti government too impress the voters. Minister Dada Bhuse said, "It is a big relief to Mumbaikars. Toll of Rs 45 and Rs 75 was been collected. The deadline to pay the toll was up to 2026 and was likely to be extended. The decision has benefited 2 lakh 80,000 vehicles. The government has taken into considering the financial load the toll waiver will bring while making this schedule."
