Mumbai: Tolls set to go up tomorrow, but services nowhere in sight

The news of a hike in toll rates across the five entry points to Mumbai has raised the hackles of motorists who pass through them every day They complain that even the current toll rates blow a hole in their pockets and given that the condition of the roads and flyovers maintained by the toll operator Mumbai Entry Point Toll Road Private Limited MEPL is not up to spec the hike is even more unjustifiedAt Dahisar toll plaza some electronic display boards were not functioning and there were no ambulances or drinking water PicsAtul Kamblemidday visited each of the five toll plazas to ascertain whether MEPL is doing enough to ensure that the roads and the plazas are properly maintained This reporter discovered that several mandatory provisions were missing ambulances could not be spotted at any of the toll and the electronic display boards that are meant to indicate the total amount of toll collected were not functioningOn September 24 midday had reported lsquoDespite recovering its advance toll operator set to hike ratesrsquo that the existing toll rates across the five entry points will be raised by as much as 1517 on October 1 MEPL had won the rights to collect toll at the entry points in November 2010 As part of the contract it had to maintain 27 flyovers on the Western Express Highway WEH Eastern Express Highway EEH and SionPanvel HighwayWhile the company had paid MSRDC Rs 2100 crore for toll collection rights until October 2026 it has already recovered Rs 203241 crore in four years Commuters said that since MEPL is hiking the toll rates despite having recovered most of its advance payment already they expect smooth rides and all the mandatory provisions at the toll plazas This investigation however found that this is not the caseDuring middayrsquos visit to the toll plaza at Dahisar the electronic boards on the lanes going out of Mumbai were not working Although there were plenty of signboards on both sides of the toll plaza indicating the different facilities provided neither an ambulance nor drinking water could be foundCommuters had complained that there were several potholes on some of the flyovers on this route during the monsoon but prior to this reporterrsquos visit MEPL had repaired them However motorists say that the potholes reappear every monsoonAnil Yadav a resident of Malvani said ldquoNo one will have a problem paying the toll if the roads are good But every monsoon the potholes reappear on the flyovers on WEH This not only inconveniences people but also leads to twowheeler accidentsrdquo ldquoThere is a lot of inflation already and the increase in toll will impact my budget I pay Rs 1060 per month and will have to shell out more soonrdquo he addedAiroliMotorists commuting between Mulund and Airoli use this toll plaza on a regular basis and seem generally happy with the quality of the road but complain that there arenrsquot enough electronic display boards There was just one board and that was also placed in an inaccessible corner The stretch of road leading up to the toll plaza also has several cracks running through it raising questions over the quality of repair workMulund LBS MargAt the Mulund LBS Marg toll plaza the electronic boards were nowhere to be seen and while a small water filter was present the ambulance was missing An official at the toll booth said that an ambulance is usually posted there but it had left to respond to a medical callMulund Eastern Express HighwayMotorists and toll booth staff here complain that there is always a cloud of dust here because of the ongoing construction of a bridge just before the toll plazaToll plaza at Mulund on Eastern Express HighwayThe pothole issue cropped up here as well Speaking to midday a traffic police official requesting anonymity said ldquoDuring monsoon potholes appear on a majority of the flyovers on EEH including those that are maintained by MEPL The toll operator should relay the tar before monsoon begins so that the people who pay toll donrsquot feel cheatedrdquoVashiThe Vashi toll plaza had adequate signboards as well as electronic boards and even the flyovers between Sion and Vashi are in good shape Here motoristsrsquo complaints were mostly restricted to the toll hike burning a hole in their pockets Dinesh Tiwari a taxi driver said ldquoAn increase of Rs 5 is not worth it looking at the condition of the roadsToll plaza at VashiThe hike will directly affect the customers who use our servicesrdquo Surinder Ghai a daily commuter said ldquoI had heard that toll rates would come down but the reality seems different This is just a way to burden people with more payments Every year there is some hike and considering the condition of the roads I donrsquot think the hike is fairrdquo