Toll may soon be waived off at Mumbai entry points: Minister

Maharashtra government would soon take a decision on exempting light vehicles from toll at the five entry points of Mumbai -- Dahisar, Airoli, Vashi, LBS Road and Mulund, state PWD minister Eknath Shinde said today.

Replying to a debate on a calling attention notice moved by Sanjay Dutt (Congress) and others in the Legislative Council, he said the government had received reports of Anand Kulkarni and Sumit Malik Committees on toll at entry points of Mumbai and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

"The government is examining the administrative, financial and legal aspects of the recommendations made in the report," he said, adding the government was "positive" about the waiver but refused to give any time-frame.

The government had also been constantly taking steps to reduce the traffic jams, he said.

"Steps are also being taken to effectively implement the Electronic Toll Collection system. The government is not concerned with the interests of the contractors and would take the decision taking into account concerns of people," the minister said.

To a question, Shinde said the government had so far closed down 12 major and 53 minor toll plazas, including the ones in Kolhapur city.