Cong stages protest against shoddy state of Pune-Bengaluru highway

The protest led by Congress district president Satej Patil, was held at Kini toll plaza as also other toll plazas on the highway.

Congress protest, Pune-Bangalore Highway, toll fee boycott, Kini toll plaza

During the protest held for six hours, the Congress demanded that till the highway was put in order, toll fees should not be collected from passing vehicles. (Express Archives)

The Congress in Kolhapur today staged a protest against the dilapidated state of the Pune-Bangalore Highway and appealed to the people to not pay the toll fee.

The protest led by Congress district president Satej Patil, was held at Kini toll plaza as also other toll plazas on the highway. “Starting from Pune to Kagal-Kagnoli, the highway has been in bad shape for months. Hundreds of potholes and craters have surfaced. Lives of commuters are at risk and the rate of accidents has increased. Authorities do not seem to be serious about repairing the highway,” Patil told reporters at Kini.

During the protest held for six hours, the Congress demanded that till the highway was put in order, toll fees should not be collected from passing vehicles. “As a result, for six hours no one paid the toll,” Patil said.

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Later, NHAI officials promised to repair the highway in 15 days. “However, we insisted that till that time, citizens will not pay any toll fee or only 50 per cent should be charged. NHAI officials said they will give 25 per cent concession till the highway is repaired,” Patil said.

The protest was also held at other toll nakas on the highway including the Khed Shivapur highway. Several Congress leaders joined the protest including former CM Prithviraj Chavan, MLAs Vishwajeet Kadam, Sangram Thopte and Vikram Sawant.

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