Maharashtra’s Shocking Toll Waiver: 5 Major Entry Points Get Free Pass—Election Strategy or Genuine Relief?

The Maharashtra government has waived tolls for light vehicles at five major entry points to Mumbai, a move hailed by officials as beneficial for commuters but criticized by opponents as an election ploy. An estimated 350,000 vehicles use these checkpoints daily, and the decision aims to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. As the election code of conduct approaches, political tensions rise, with rival parties debating the motives behind this significant policy change.

CONTENTS:

• Maharashtra toll waiver sparks controversy.
• Maharashtra toll waiver fuels political debate.

Maharashtra’s Shocking Toll Waiver: 5 Major Entry Points Get Free Pass—Election Strategy or Genuine Relief?

Maharashtra toll waiver sparks controversy

Maharashtra’s Shocking Toll Waiver: 5 Major Entry The Maharashtra government has announced a toll waiver for light motor vehicles at all five major toll booths in Mumbai, a decision that State Minister Dadaji Bhuse calls revolutionary. This change affects around 280,000 light vehicles that pass through key toll points, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Road entry in Mulund, the Eastern Express Highway at Mulund, the Mulund-Airoli bridge, Dahisar, and Mankhurd. While many commuters have welcomed the move, it has raised concerns within the state administration regarding how to compensate the toll companies. There are also growing demands for similar waivers in other cities, with citizens threatening to stop paying tolls if their requests are ignored.

Minister Bhuse noted that the toll contracts were set to expire in 2026 and could have been extended, emphasizing the significance of the decision. However, he did not provide a clear plan for compensating the toll companies. This move has drawn criticism, particularly from Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who disapproves of the trend of offering freebies before elections. Government sources indicate that the state administration had warned against such giveaways, including the toll waiver, citing potential financial strain on state funds. Despite these concerns, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar proceeded with the decision.

Maharashtra’s Shocking Toll Waiver: 5 Major Entry In addition to the toll waiver, the Maharashtra government has introduced several pre-election schemes, which have also raised eyebrows. These include the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, providing ₹1,500 monthly to underprivileged women, the Mukhyamantri Vayoshri Yojana, offering a one-time payment of ₹3,000 to the elderly, and the Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana, giving young people stipends of ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 for a year. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticized the toll waiver, calling it “the biggest scam” and alleging that the government would reimburse toll companies, with a significant portion of the funds potentially going to the ruling parties for election purposes.

Maharashtra toll waiver fuels political debate

Maharashtra’s Shocking Toll Waiver: 5 Major Entry To appeal to the middle class, the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, led by Eknath Shinde, has waived tolls on light vehicles—including cars, school buses, and state transport buses—at five entry points to Mumbai. Prior to the midnight of October 14, when the waiver took effect, motorists had to pay ₹45 to enter or exit Mumbai at the Mulund, Vashi, Dahisar, Airoli, and LBS Marg checkpoints. This move is expected to benefit a large segment of the population by saving time and improving air quality due to reduced traffic congestion and pollution.

According to Dada Bhuse, the state’s public works minister, an estimated 350,000 vehicles use these checkpoints daily, with 70,000 being heavy vehicles and 280,000 light vehicles. The Mahayuti cabinet made this decision during what is likely its final meeting before the election code of conduct takes effect in mid-November. A committee headed by Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik will determine the compensation for the Maharashtra State Roads Development Corporation (MSRDC) due to this waiver.

CM Shinde called the decision “historic” and denied allegations from the opposition that it was motivated by upcoming elections. He argued that the waiver would save time and fuel while reducing pollution and is part of the government’s broader welfare initiatives, which also include the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, offering monthly financial aid of ₹1,500 to women aged 21-60.

Maharashtra’s Shocking Toll Waiver: 5 Major Entry Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized the toll waiver, suggesting it reflects the government’s desperation in light of an impending electoral defeat. She expressed on social media that this “desperate measure” shows that the Mahajhoothi government recognizes its dwindling support and is trying to appease the public. Chaturvedi also claimed there is a “total collapse” of law and order.

The toll issue gained political attention about a decade ago when the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, campaigned for transparency in toll collections, even leading attacks on toll booths. In the 2009 Assembly elections, the MNS made significant gains, and in 2012, Thackeray alleged corruption in toll agreements that favored contractors.

He claimed that toll contractors continued to collect fees after recovering construction costs and manipulated traffic data to maximize profits, with under-reported vehicle counts in surveys and inflated project costs. The MNS launched an extensive survey of vehicles at toll checkpoints, which resonated with many motorists, despite past controversies surrounding the party’s stance on Hindi-speaking migrants.

Thackeray’s campaign revealed significant daily toll collections at key entry points, prompting him to call for a halt to toll payments until the government ensured transparency. While the movement lost momentum over the years, it succeeded in raising public awareness about toll-related issues. The MNS faced a decline in electoral success after failing to follow through on these issues, winning only one seat in the 2014 Assembly elections and none in 2019.

Maharashtra’s Shocking Toll Waiver: 5 Major Entry In contrast, during the 2014 campaign, BJP leaders, including Devendra Fadnavis, promised toll exemptions and a “toll-free Maharashtra.” The Fadnavis-led government subsequently waived tolls at multiple projects, though the light vehicle waiver at the five Mumbai entry points was delayed due to financial concerns.

In 2023, Thackeray managed to secure several concessions for commuters from the Shinde-led coalition, including improved infrastructure like toilets and ambulances near toll plazas. Both the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the MNS are now vying for credit regarding the recent toll waiver.

Maharashtra’s Shocking Toll Waiver: 5 Major Entry The state adopted a public-private partnership (PPP) model for road construction in the 1990s, beginning with the Jaisingpur bypass. This model was applied to major projects like the Mumbai-Pune expressway. Toll charges were instituted in 2002 to cover construction and maintenance costs. However, commuters have often complained about the inadequate quality of services despite the tolls, pointing to a lack of essential facilities like breakdown assistance and restrooms.