Maharashtra gives Ganeshotsav gift; now drive home toll-free from Mumbai via Pune e-way during festival

Mumbai, September 7: Maharashtra gives a gift for Ganesh Utsav for its people by announcing toll waiver for Mumbai-Pune Expressway and roads leading to Konkan from Kolhapur for the upcoming Ganesh Utsav. Speaking to reporters outside the state secretariat in Mumbai on Thursday, PWD minister Eknath Shinde said the toll waiver will be in place between 10th and 13th of this month for all incoming vehicles and on 23rd September for outgoing vehicles.

 

Shinde said motorists can avail the toll waiver only if the vehicle has a sticker that will be provided by traffic police and regional transport offices (RTOs). “Motorists who are travelling to their hometowns for the festival can get a sticker that says, ‘Ganeshotsav-2018 Konkan Darshan’ from the traffic police and regional transport RTOs.” He added that motorists returning to Mumbai, Thane from Konkan after the festival ends, too, will not have to pay toll on September 23.

Apart from private vehicles, the waiver will also be applicable for state transport buses. Authorities have also been instructed to conduct necessary repairs on the Mumbai-Goa highway and arrange for emergency facilities like vehicle repairs and ambulances.

Recently, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has sold the toll collection rights for Mumbai-Pune Expressway for the next 15 years for Rs 9,000 crore, almost 10 times the earlier contract it had with the IRB Ltd for the 2004-2019 period.