Maharashtra: Council members demand separate queues at toll booths

After being exempted from paying toll at booths across the state, members of the legislative council now want separate queues and a copy of their ID cards to be given to all plazas, to ensure easy passage.

After being exempted from paying toll at booths across the state, members of the legislative council now want separate queues and a copy of their ID cards to be given to all plazas, to ensure easy passage.

The demands for more exemptions were made during the budget session on Friday, where MLCs alleged harassment and ill-treatment by toll booth attendants. They said the attendants are often rude.

“I presented my ID card at the Vashi toll plaza, but the attendants refused to let me go. They raised several needless objections. Finally, I had to pay the toll as I was in a rush and was heading for my father’s funeral, said Anant Gadgil, Congress MLC. “If legislators are being treated this shabbily, imagine the plight of the common man,” he said.

Gadgil wanted the state must make available a prototype copy of all legislators’ identity cards, so they are recognised quickly at the toll booths.

Some other members also asked for separate queues at the plazas and demanded that copies of all identity cards of legislators and MPs be given to the toll plazas across the state.

However, public works department minister Chandrakant Patil’s comment was non-committal.

“We will write to the MSRDC and tell them that legislators should not be troubled, if they present their identity cards.”