In one of rare interventions on issues of public importance, cricketing legend and master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar has batted for the common man by shooting off a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and requesting the latter to re-consider the “model of operations” involving the levy of toll tax, to reduce “physical and mental toll” on the people in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane and Mumbai.
“I am presently concerned about the present state of affairs concerning the operation of toll gates around the city of Mumbai. I would sincerely request you to kindly re-consider the model of operations to reduce the physical and mental toll on citizens who travel in and out of the city,” Tendulkar stated in his letter to the Chief Minister.
In his letter to the chief minister, Tendeulkar expressed serious concern over the recent move to set one more toll gate at Kharghar, adding to the long-list of toll gates in Mumbai and its satellite cities of Thane and Navi Mumbai.
“With the growth of the city, there is a lot of travel that happens from the satellite towns especially from Vashi and Thane. In this context, there is a need to re-look at the number of toll gates rather han keep adding to the list. These toll gates have become a major road blocks resulting in traffic snarls, burning precious fuel and adding to pollution levels,” Tendulkar wrote.
“The recent hike in toll charges across the city has not helped maters as the new charge has increased the time taken to complete the transaction for each vehicle due to the issue of change (Rs5),” the Bharata Ratna recipient stated.
Apart from underscoring the need toll operators to invest in technologies, including the introduction of RFID enabled cards, to alleviate he limitations of collecting the levy, the legendary cricketer lamented: “It is also pertinent to note that while toll is collected, there is no quality control on the roads with the roads leading to Vashi and Airoli bridges being case in point”.
Within hours after Tendulkar’s written on February 20 became public on Friday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that his government would look into the concerns raised by Tendulkar over the problems being faced by the commuters due to toll tax.
“We have taken note of his (Tendulkar’s) letter. I assure the House that we will overcome in a transparent way the legal hurdles to bring an end to toll plazas,” Fadnavis said the Maharashtra legislative Council.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to clear the legal hurdles in the shutting down the toll collection plazas in the state, Fadnavis said: “While we were reviewing the agreements of major toll operators, we were shocked on finding that there was no ‘buy— back’ clause. We have initiated an enquiry into this and will go to the court if necessary”.
In his letter, Tendulkar has, among other things, made a strong case for creating a 24x7 dedicated and open lane for ambulances which routinely get stuck in traffic jams at toll tax lanes.
“I have seen on multiple occasions, where ambulances are unable to cross a toll gate as they are stuck in the traffic snarl, compromising the person in need of critical care. Movement of ambulances have been an issue in the city and we should make a start by ensuring smooth passage at the toll gates,” Tendulkar implored.This is the second time in recent years when Tendulkar has batted for a public cause. Earlier in 2010, the master-blaster had promoted the “save water campaign” launched by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), through an advertisement that had showed exhort Mumbaikars to use bucket instead of a shower for taking bath and say that he had already switched over to bucket for bathing in the wake of severe water cuts faced by the city then.
Not unexpectedly, Tendulkar’s letter the chief minister on toll tax issue sparked a fierce political debate, with the Opposition Congress and NCP reminding the BJP-led saffron alliance government that one of its promises ahead of the 2014 Assembly polls would be to make Maharashtra a “toll-free state”.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that Tendulkar had raised the issue of common man and the BJP needed to fulfill its pre-poll promise. “The toll issue reflects yet another U-turn of the BJP-led government,” Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said.
MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar said that his party had been raising toll tax issue for the past few years “late BJP leader Gopinath Munde has assured the people that his party, if voted to power, would make Maharashtra a toll-free state. It remains to be seen if chief minister Fadnavis will walk the talk,”
However, the ruling Shiv Sena targetted Tendulkar in a sarcastic manner for raising the toll tax issue. Its Transport Minister Diwakar Raote said: “It is our fortune that he has raised the issue of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Farmers are dying in Vidarbha and Marathwada, but our Sachin had earlier gone and adopted a village in Andhra Pradesh”.
Alluding to lata Mangeshkar’s opposition to the proposed Peddar Road flyover project, Raote asked Tendulkar, who enjoys good rapport with the renowned singer, to withdraw her opposition to the proposed flyover. “Since he is close to lataji, we would like to impress upon her not to create hurdles in the way of construction of the much-needed Peddar Road flyover. Sachin should realise that a lot of his fans live in that area as well,” Raote said.