Toll exemptions to cost Maha Rs 8,799 crore: RTI query

A toll-free Maharashtra will result in a compensation of Rs 8798.79 crore to contractors by the state government in a period of over two decades, revealed an RTI query.

The compensation will be paid by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Public Works Department (PWD) to contractors managing the toll booths. As per the information provided by the PWD to RTI activist Anil Galgali, this compensation amount would be paid till financial year 2039-40.

Galgali said that he had sought information from PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil about details of the toll booths closed and also about those where exemptions have been provided.

The Public Works Department (PWD) replied that 19 projects having 27 toll nakas (booths), cars, jeeps, state transport buses and school vehicles have been exempted from paying the road levy, due to which the department paid Rs 179.69 crore to the contractors for the year 2015-16.