Cong MLA warns of stir if commuters not given toll exemption

Mumbai, Aug 22 (PTI) Congress MLA Nitesh Rane todaywarned of launching an agitation if the Maharashtra governmentfails to provide toll exemption to commuters visiting Konkanregion via Mumbai-Pune Expressway for the upcoming Ganeshfestival. Rane had recently written to the Maharashtra PWD ministryseeking the toll exemption. "It has been almost three weeks since I wrote the letterto the Maharashtra PWD Ministry seeking the toll exemption,"Nitesh, son of former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane,told reporters here. "But, unfortunately, no response has been given to meyet. This forces me to assume that the government is notwilling to provide toll relief to people of the Konkanregion," he said. "If the demands are not met, especially in the backdropof the bridge collapse at Mahad, I will come out with mysupporters at the toll plazas (on the E-way) and opposelevying of the toll," said the MLA, who represents KankawaliAssembly Constituency in Sindhudurg district. Rane also asked bus drivers to display a banner withKonkan written on it at the the front side of windscreen. "After the bridge collapse at Mahad, people are forced totake the E-way to reach Konkan, which has already compoundedtheir problems," he claimed. As per the MLA, people are using the E-way also becauseof the "inefficiency" of the Maharashtra government inproperly maintaining and improving the Mumbai-Goa Highway. "During the (recently-concluded) Assembly session, thegovernment had told the Legislature that the condition ofMumbai-Goa highway, currently riddled with huge potholes, willbe improved before the Ganeshotsav season. But, the governmentfailed to live up to its promise," he alleged. "Why should the people pay toll at the Mumbai-PuneExpressway because of the inefficiency of the government? TheMahad tragedy on the Mumbai-Goa highway has only worsened thecondition of travellers, who will now be forced to use theMumbai-Pune expressway in large numbers," he said. A large number of people, mainly those hailing fromKonkan and employed in Mumbai, head to their villages in thecoastal districts to celebrate the 10-day festival. PTI APMNRBTIRRYS