Mumbai: After exemption, motorists want dedicated lanes at tolls

Car owners can rejoice after the state government closed several toll plazas, and gave a waiver to Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) from payment at some tolls, including the new toll at Kharghar-Kamothe on the Sion Panvel highway, from yesterday.

The Kharghar-Kamothe toll booth, where motorists travelling on the Sion-Panvel highway are worried about getting stuck behind other vehicles. The toll plazas in Mumbai and Mumbai-Pune Expressway will continue to operate, as no decision has been taken on them

However, despite being exempt from paying toll, some worry they will still be stuck in long traffic snarls during peak hours, especially on the Sion-Panvel highway, as they haven't been given dedicated lanes.

Also Read: Maharashtra to shut down 12 toll plazas

Motorists going through the new toll plaza will have to wait in long queues during peak hours, as toll authorities at Sion Panvel Tollways Private Ltd (SPTPL) said they still have not taken a decision on whether they would dedicate lanes for LMVs to pass without stopping, as commercial vehicles which are not exempt from paying toll (such as private buses), could use lanes reserved for LMVs at the toll plaza.

Officials from SPTPL said that a decision on the same would be taken only after directions from the Public Works Department (PWD). Tajuddin Shaikh, head of toll operations at Kharghar-Kamothe said, "The PWD will direct all toll operators and accordingly it will be implemented."

Traffic snarls during peak hours have been a major issue since the new toll at Kharghar was opened. Cricketing legend and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar had also raised the issue, and had written a letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis, asking him to look into the issues of toll plazas becoming bottlenecks and causing traffic snarls.

Motorists worried
Motorists often complain about the time taken to cross the Kharghar toll. "Though the toll collection for LMVs has been stopped, there should be dedicated lanes kept free near the plaza, so cars can move without stopping. If that is not done, then we will end up wasting time waiting behind commercial vehicles," said Arun Bhise, a local resident and president of Citizens' Unity Forum, Panvel.

Also Read: Maharashtra scraps toll for light vehicles at 80 plazas

During peak hours, on an average, it takes 15-30 minutes to cross the new toll in Navi Mumbai. "It is good that exemption has been given, however, if separate lanes are kept only for cars then the issue of traffic snarls during peak hours will reduce to a great extent," said Vijay Bhoir, a resident of Belapur.

Minister speak
State PWD minister, Eknath Shinde told mid-day that directives have been given, "We have given directives to the toll operators wherein two separate lanes will be kept reserved for light motor vehicles."