Aaditya demands end to toll collection on Eastern and Western Express Highway

Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray has called on the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to stop collecting toll on the Eastern and Western Express Highways, as their maintenance has been handed over to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Thackeray argues that it is unfair to charge toll when the BMC is already responsible for repairs and maintenance. He has written a letter to the BMC chief on the matter. Thackeray also claims that MSRDC is still collecting revenue from advertising hoardings along the highways, which should now go to the BMC.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Monday said the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) should stop collecting toll from motorists using the Eastern and the Western Express Highway since it had handed over their maintenance to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Mumbai, India - Aug. 7, 2023:Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray ineracts with media during the press conference at Matoshree, Bandra, in Mumbai, India, on Monday, August 7, 2023. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

Addressing a press conference at Matoshree, he said as per official information, MSRDC transferred the highways to BMC in November last year and it meant the civic body was responsible for their repairs and maintenance.

“In that case why is MSRDC still collecting the toll? It is wrong, and double taxation on the common man as BMC already charges the people for various services. I have written a letter in this regard to the BMC chief,” Thackeray said.

The Yuva Sena chief further said, “We also came to know that MSRDC is getting the revenue from advertising hoardings along these two highways. If the two highways are with BMC now, then revenue from the hoardings should also be given to the civic body.”

Sheetal Mhatre, spokesperson for Shinde’s Shiv Sena, criticised Thackeray for raising the issue after the end of legislature session.

“Aaditya Thackeray has raised this issue now just for political publicity. Why didn’t he raise the issue and make his demand during the monsoon session of the state legislature so that the government could have answered it on the floor of the assembly,” Mhatre said.