[Resolved]  Toll Naka — Exempt Small Cars from Toll

Address:

Maharashtra

Exempt Small Cars from Tolls

Maharashtra has about 178 toll nakas all over the state on the various roads, controlled by National Highway Authorities, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation and Public Works Department. Actually, it is the prime responsibility of government to build roads for the general public. However, the state has built some of the roads through private participation on “Build, Operate and Transfer” (BOT) basis and have left the general public in the greedy hands of these private road building contractors who have been levying heavy tolls on the vehicles in the name of recovery of the cost of the roads. After inauguration of the Mumbai Pune Expressway on 1st March 2002, the toll rates for various types of vehicles have been enhanced from time to time. Actually, more number of vehicles has been found using the toll road than thought at the time of working out the toll rates. As a result, a huge amount, much more than expected is being collected at the toll nakas.

Incidentally, small hatchback cars up to the capacity of 1000 cc are comparatively much cheaper and are being owned by middle class families. However, the burden of toll amounts to be paid on different roads at toll nakas dents their pockets heavily and reduces the joy of driving their own vehicles. Also, the economic level of owners of costly luxurious sedan cars and the small cars should not be considered the same. The small cars should therefore be exempted from paying tolls, like motor cycles.