MSRDC did not charge for use of sea link: RTI

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), owners of the Bandra-Worli sea link, did not charge the organisers of the marathon for using the sea link last year.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), owners of the Bandra-Worli sea link, did not charge the organisers of the marathon for using the sea link last year.

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According to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Worli-based activist Alka Shah, no fees were levied as the event was considered a ‘special case’. MSRDC waived off Rs 20.5 lakh for the event. The RTI also shows that the state government will pay the IRB, the private contractor who collects toll on the sea link.

“What is so special about the marathon? Why is the MSRDC, which recovered charges from Formula One, waiving off charges for this event,” said Shah, who has also filed a public interest litigation on the event in 2010.

She said while allowing the event, the high court had asked the traffic police to make arrangements so that citizens were not inconvenienced. “I have asked all citizen groups to go out on Sunday and if their movements are restricted. I will then apply for a contempt of court for violating the rider of the high court,” Shah said.

She has written to the police chief and traffic authorities to ensure that citizens are least inconvenienced by the event.

Shah also said there was vested interest by certain politicians in the event because even though the police and other agencies had objected to the current route due to security threats, the state government was giving them permission.

The RTI application that she filed also says the organisers had not paid for police bandobast for the 2009 event. “The outstanding is close to Rs 8.79 lakh,” Shah said.