PWD minister defends high toll rates

The information being put up by the public works department (PWD) on its website since last week shows a staggering difference between the actual cost of the project and the toll amount to be collected.

The information being put up by the public works department (PWD) on its website since last week shows a staggering difference between the actual cost of the project and the toll amount to be collected.

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The revelation comes at a time when the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is protesting against toll collection.

PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal justified the high toll amounts saying the duration of recovery is too long, which leads to escalation of the actual cost. Bhujbal, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, criticised MNS chief Raj Thackeray saying the toll culture was introduced by the Shiv Sena, of which Thackeray was an integral part.

Meanwhile, a cabinet minister has also slammed the policy. “There is widespread discontent among people against the toll system. The state government needs to review the entire toll policy,” said agriculture minister and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.