No toll tax for two-wheeler riders on 2nd Hooghly Bridge

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to waive the toll tax for two-wheelers on Vidyasagar Setu.

With the announcement of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in this regard, two-wheeler riders will not have to pay Rs 5 anymore to avail Vidyasagar Setu to travel across River Hooghly from October 1.

While leaving Nabanna on Thursday, Banerjee said: "The toll tax for two-wheelers on Vidyasagar Setu has been waived. From October 1 onwards, riders of two-wheelers will not have to pay the same."

Around 3.11 crore vehicles pass through the bridge every year and it includes around 84 lakh to 90 lakh two-wheelers. The decision to waive the toll tax for the two-wheelers will cost Rs 5 crore to the state's exchequer.

It may be mentioned that there are separate lanes for two-wheelers at the toll plaza on Vidyasagar Setu. But during rush hours, there are long queues to pay the

toll tax. With this waiver, there will be no more queues of two-wheelers and it will help in bringing down the rate of pollution in the area.

Secondly, many office-goers need to cross the bridge everyday and they will be tremendously benefitted due to this decision of the state government as they no will no longer have to pay Rs 5 each time — once while heading towards their office and again while returning home. It may be mentioned that the state Secretariat, Nabanna, is situated at a stone's throw distance from the toll plaza. The decision has been welcomed by the people in general as they do not have to pay any amount to cross the bridge and also wait in queues during the office hours.

It may be mentioned that only the

toll tax for two-wheelers has been waived while the same for other vehicles remain unchanged.