In a major sop doled out to people living in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, the BJP-led MahaYuti government on Monday announced complete waiver of toll tax for light motor vehicles (LMVs) at all the five Mumbai Entry Points (MEPs) with effect from Tuesday.

The decision to waive the toll tax completely  at the Dahisar, Mulund, Thane, Airoli and Vashi MEPs, was taken on Monday at a special State Cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Eknath Shinde and attended by deputy chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar and other ministers.

Announcing his government’s decision to waive the toll tax on LMVs, chief minister Eknath Shinde said: “Our government’s decision is historic and people-friendly.  This move will save commuters' time, and reduce pollution and traffic”.

Given that people living in MMR – who drive down to the country’s commercial capital every day for their work --have long been demanding the total waiver of toll tax, the decision has become a big relief to people using lighter vehicles like cars, jeeps, vans, and small trucks.

Currently, the toll tax levied on motorists by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is Rs 45.per single  trip.

The ruling BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP celebrated the state government’s decision to waive toll tax for LMVs by distributing sweets among the people. 

In a related development, RTI activist Pravin Wategaonkar – who has long been crusading for discontinuation of the levy toll tax at five entry points of Mumbai and Bombay-{une Expressway – welcomed the decision and said: “The decision has become as a big relief to the vehicle users  at five entry points of Mumbai. Inordinate delays at toll booths and poor condition of roads even after paying toll were some of the important grievances of these regular users. There would not be any financial burden on the vehicle users”.

“Given that all vehicle owners have paid one time Motor Vehicle Tax, there is no declaration of Total capital Outlay prior to issuance of toll notification and given the location of toll booths, the toll collection at five entry points  was mala fide, arbitrary, capricious, illegal and violative of article 14 read with article 19(1)d of the Constitution of India especially as regards vehicle owners in thane; and ultra vires of Sec. 20 of Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Tax Act and articles 265 of the Constitution of India,” Wategaonkar said.

Welcoming the decision, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said: “We demanded that all roads should be toll-free. We were criticized for vandalizing the toll plazas, but extreme steps were necessary to draw the government’s attention. At least, now the Mumbaikars shall be free of paying tolls and we are happy that our agitations were successful”.

Terming the decision as “politically motivated”, State Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said: ““The ruling MahaYuti is aware of the public angst and fears losing power. So it is taking such ‘feel-good’ decisions. But why can’t it be extended even for HMVs? Why continue paying the contractors?”