CM Eknath Shinde meets MNS Chief Raj Thackeray over toll issue, discusses demands

CM Eknath Shinde meets MNS Chief Raj Thackeray over toll issue, discusses demands

Thackeray has been persistently been making demands for exemption of toll for small small cars and on vehicles entering or leaving Mumbai, a campaign that he had launched from October 1

Whilst, BJP hit out at Raj Thackeray for pointing out that Devendra Fadnavis was lying on the issue of toll, on Thursday, CM Eknath Shinde met the
MNS chief at the State Guest House, Sahyadri.

However, on Friday morning, state officials led by minister Dada Bhuse, the chairman of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), held a meeting with Thackeray at his residence to discuss his demand.

Reportedly, BJP leaders in the state are irked with him after he showed a video of Fadnavis claiming that the toll on cars had been waived and questioned the veracity of this statement. Following protests staged by his party workers, Thackeray sought an appointment with Shinde.

Through a letter submitted to the CM, Thackeray demanded that the government give details on where toll was being charged and other details of the contracts entered into with toll operators. He also demanded the quantum of toll being collected and when it would end. Another contention was: when the government was levying road tax, where was the need for toll?

In the midst of the meeting on Thursday, Thackeray asked the MSRDC officials present how toll could be waived and suggested that they examine the government’s contracts with toll collection contractors.

He also pointed to the case of Hari Om Nagar in Mulund, which is within Mumbai limits but whose residents have to pay a toll to enter Mumbai. Shinde then directed officials of MSRDC to discuss Thackeray’s suggestions with him at the latter’s house. Thackeray informed the media that he would announce his future course of action after Friday’s meeting.

Meanwhile, Shinde also made it known that the toll operators at Mumbai’s entry points needed to swell staff at the toll nakas to ensure there were no traffic chaos and also asked for toilets and first aid centres. He also told officers that videography needed to be done at toll nakas to see number of vehicles passed through them.

Present at the meet were MSRDC minister Dada Bhuse, MLA Pramod Patil, former MLA Bala Nandgaonkar, Nitin Sardesai and other leaders.

News Edit K.V.Raman