Even as attempts are being made to bring the issue of toll exemption to the centre stage of state politics, the closure of toll plazas and exemptions to vehicles have come at a hefty price. The decision by the earlier state government to close 12 toll plazas and give exemption to vehicles at 53 toll plazas had cost the state a huge Rs 798.44 crore.

The information sought by activist Anil Galgali via a Right To Information (RTI) application revealed that in 2016, the state Public Works Department (PWD) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had to pay Rs 798.44 crore as compensation to toll plaza contractors following the decision on closure of toll plazas and exemption to vehicles. 

Shailendra Borse, undersecretary, and also the then public information officer, in his reply dated March 2016, stated that out of the 38 plazas managed by the PWD, 11 were closed and R226.51 crore was paid to contractors as full and final compensation. Whereas, MSRDC, which maintained 53 toll plazas, had to pay a compensation of Rs 168 crore for closing a single toll plaza. 

“Out of the 19 road projects of the PWD, toll exemptions were given to cars, SUVs, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses and school buses at 27 toll plazas.  This decision resulted in the state having to return R179.69 crore as compensation for the year 2015-16. 

Similarly, MSRDC, which gave similar exemption to vehicles at its 26 toll plazas in 12 road projects, had to pay Rs 224.24 crore as compensation,” said Galgali.

11
No. of toll plazas of the 38 run by PWD that are shut

Closed toll plazas

Out of 53 toll plazas under the MSRDC, only one was closed owing to the closure of a railway overbridge (ROB) at Chandrapur. MSRDC had to return R168 crore as full and final compensation to the contractor. 

The 11 toll plazas closed by PWD include the Alibaug-Pen-Khopoli one; two toll plazas at Vadgaon-Chakan-Shikrapur near Maval (Pune); Mohole-Kurul-Kamati-Mandrup, Tembhurni-Kurduwadi-Barshi Latur Road at Solapur; Ahmednagar-Karmala Tembhurni Road, Nashik Vani Road, Yawal-Bhusawal Road at Bhusawal and Khamgaon Ring Road.

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