Times of India: Thane: Thursday,
April 10, 2014.
At a time
when toll contractors at the five entry points to Mumbai have invited public
scorn for the rude behavior of their attendants, officials of the Mumbai Entry
Points Ltd (MEPL) claim that a daily average of 2,800 vehicles drive past these
toll posts without paying the toll fee.
The MEPL has
drawn up the list of 2,800 vehicles under different categories, which are
exempted from payment of toll and zip past the toll posts at Vashi, Airoli,
Easter Express Highway, LBS marg, and the Dahisar toll posts regularly.
The MEPL list
was provided to activist Shrinivas Ghanekar following an RTI query seeking
details about the exact count of toll-exempted vehicles that pass through the
toll posts regularly. Ghanekar, however, claimed that the list provided by the
MEPL cannot be relied as factual as it shows that a daily average of 73 heavy
trucks or multi-axel trucks passing through the toll posts under the exempted
category. The list also reveals that on an average, as many as, 308 trucks do
not pay toll, as they fall in the exempted category.
"It is
hard to believe these figures as there are no orders by the government granting
any exemption from payment of toll to truck or high trucks. I doubt the list
provided by the state agencies, as there is no confirm evidence on the claims
made by the toll contractor. The list provided by the contractor gives an
impression that more number of vehicles are toll-exempted vehicles that are
passing through the toll nakas," Ghanekar said.
The Kalyan resident
added that the state government orders are clear that only such vehicles which
are government-owned, or ones which has a MLA or MP, minister, member of
judiciary or an ambulance etc are exempted. The staff of top dignitaries like
the PM or the President are also a part of the toll exempted list. "The
list declares that on an average 308 trucks under the exempted category are
allowed to pass without paying a toll. Is the toll contractor suggesting that
top dignitaries like MP, MLA or minister were travelling in the trucks and so
they exempted them from toll? It only speaks volume about the list provided to
the state,'' Ghanekar said.
State
authorities though agreeing with the contentions of the activist said the list
cannot be completely ridiculed as false. "It may be little exaggeration,
but the fact is many of the heavy vehicles used by the Indian Army pass or
defence establisments pass through the toll gates without paying toll.
Moreover, there are trucks ferrying garbage to the dump yards at Mulund or
heavy vehicles of the civic bodies or the police, which are using the free toll
facility," he said.
Ghanekar,
however, said the state government directives are very clear and have specified
the vehicles which can be exempted and there is no reason to exempt those
outside the purview of the list.
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