Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed the state administration to create a separate lane at toll plazas on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway for vehicles going for the upcoming Ganesh festival.

A statement from the chief minister's office on Sunday said the decision was taken to ease the movement of traffic on the highway. The 10-day Ganesh festival begins on August 31. Shinde visited the Khalapur toll plaza and took the decision after a meeting with officials.