New toll charges deferred

The MSRDC had announced that the new toll charges 8211; Rs 20 for cars, Rs 25 for light commercial vehicles, Rs 50 for buses and trucks and Rs 100 for truck-trailers 8211; would be collected from four additional toll stations beginning May 2. The new rates are at present only being collected at the Airoli bridge since January this year. MSRDC Managing Director R C Sinha told Express Newsline that the notification would be issued some time this month. 8220;There will be no rollback on the rates,8221; he said.

The state government hopes torecover Rs 100 crore annually from toll collection to pay back the Rs 1,550 crore it has spent on its 55 new bridges and flyovers in the city. Sinha said the frequent delays in toll collection dates had affected revenue collection. 8220;Every day that we don8217;t collect toll is a loss of revenue for us.8221;

The MSRDC had planned to start collecting the toll after it had completed five flyovers. It has already completed nine. The state could be losing as much as Rs 30 lakh a day thanks to the delay. Five toll collection agents have already been appointed at the various centres. The MSRDC will also gradually introduce computerised toll collection wherein a machine fitted at the toll barrier automatically deducts the toll from a pre-paid toll card installed in a vehicle. This ensures that toll is collected without the vehicle having to stop at toll stations.